The first House meeting of the Mohali Municipal Corporation was marked by passing of development works worth Rs 20 crore, a dissenting note by SAD-BJP councillors, exchange of heated arguments between Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and Opposition councillors and discussion on two complex issues — property tax and paid parking.
The meeting, which lasted 86 minutes at the Municipal Corporation Bhawan in Sector 68 here, saw the presence of 50 councillors of all parties, including the ex officio member of the House — area MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu. All 23 councillors of the SAD-BJP, who had boycotted the mayoral poll on August 28, were seen seated together.
Of the 75 issues on the agenda, 72 issues were passed by the House immediately with some Akali-BJP councillors insisting on holding a proper discussion on these one by one. Interestingly, immediately after the start of the House proceedings, Bharat Bhushan Maini, who claimed to be the leader of the SAD-BJP councillors, announced that they (SAD-BJP) had passed all issues, but wanted a discussion on just two issues — property tax and paid parking.
Apparently, the Opposition was trying to dominate the proceedings by not allowing anybody else, including Mayor Kulwant Singh, to speak most of the time.
The meeting started at 3 pm, the scheduled time, with the address of Mohali Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, who welcomed all councillors and Mayor Kulwant Singh while apprising the House of the current financial status of the MC.
The first Mayor of Mohali, Kulwant Singh, was given a standing ovation by councillors, including those belonging to the SAD-BJP.
In his address, Kulwant Singh assured that no partiality would be done with any councillor and development works would be carried out equally in all wards. He also called upon the opposition to join hands for the development of the town.
Opposition leader Maini said, “Our only objection is that we were not consulted before finalising the agenda. Our only concern is that property tax should be removed.” Another senior Akali councillor, Sukhdev Singh Patwari, demanded that property tax and paid parking should be put on top of the agenda for a proper discussion.
Dissenting note on maintenance of parks
On the proposal for forming a horticulture wing of the MC to maintain public parks after taking over these from GMADA, Akali councillor Harmanpreet Singh Prince said, “You have passed the issue without a proper discussion. We did not agree to it.”
While the Akali councillor opposed the proposal, Opposition leader Maini questioned why the MC was intending to take over only 50 parks. “The MC should take over all parks from GMADA,” said Maini.
Proposal that could not be passed
A proposal for conducting a third-party audit of the construction of at least 25 bus queue shelters by a Delhi-based company to check whether these were being made in accordance to the prescribed specifications in the tender could not passed in the meeting. “The matter has been kept pending,” said the Mayor.
Akali councillorsallege bias
Akali councillors alleged that partiality was evident in preparing the agenda as wards of Akali-BJP councillors were allotted development works of Rs 2 crore while wards of Congress and Azad Group councilors were given works of over Rs 6 crore. “This is sheer partiality,” alleged Akali councillor Paramjit Singh Kahlon.
Heated arguments between Cong MLA, Oppn
The House witnessed heated arguments between Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and some Akali-BJP councillors. The Opposition raised an objection to Sidhu’s presence on the dais. There was ruckus as soon as Sidhu tried to clear the air on some issue which came up for discussion. “You can’t address us. You are not the leader of the House and you have no right to sit on the dais,” said Akali councillors. Sidhu said he did not need their permission to speak or sit.
The meeting, which lasted 86 minutes at the Municipal Corporation Bhawan in Sector 68 here, saw the presence of 50 councillors of all parties, including the ex officio member of the House — area MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu. All 23 councillors of the SAD-BJP, who had boycotted the mayoral poll on August 28, were seen seated together.
Of the 75 issues on the agenda, 72 issues were passed by the House immediately with some Akali-BJP councillors insisting on holding a proper discussion on these one by one. Interestingly, immediately after the start of the House proceedings, Bharat Bhushan Maini, who claimed to be the leader of the SAD-BJP councillors, announced that they (SAD-BJP) had passed all issues, but wanted a discussion on just two issues — property tax and paid parking.
Apparently, the Opposition was trying to dominate the proceedings by not allowing anybody else, including Mayor Kulwant Singh, to speak most of the time.
The meeting started at 3 pm, the scheduled time, with the address of Mohali Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, who welcomed all councillors and Mayor Kulwant Singh while apprising the House of the current financial status of the MC.
The first Mayor of Mohali, Kulwant Singh, was given a standing ovation by councillors, including those belonging to the SAD-BJP.
In his address, Kulwant Singh assured that no partiality would be done with any councillor and development works would be carried out equally in all wards. He also called upon the opposition to join hands for the development of the town.
Opposition leader Maini said, “Our only objection is that we were not consulted before finalising the agenda. Our only concern is that property tax should be removed.” Another senior Akali councillor, Sukhdev Singh Patwari, demanded that property tax and paid parking should be put on top of the agenda for a proper discussion.
Dissenting note on maintenance of parks
On the proposal for forming a horticulture wing of the MC to maintain public parks after taking over these from GMADA, Akali councillor Harmanpreet Singh Prince said, “You have passed the issue without a proper discussion. We did not agree to it.”
While the Akali councillor opposed the proposal, Opposition leader Maini questioned why the MC was intending to take over only 50 parks. “The MC should take over all parks from GMADA,” said Maini.
Proposal that could not be passed
A proposal for conducting a third-party audit of the construction of at least 25 bus queue shelters by a Delhi-based company to check whether these were being made in accordance to the prescribed specifications in the tender could not passed in the meeting. “The matter has been kept pending,” said the Mayor.
Akali councillorsallege bias
Akali councillors alleged that partiality was evident in preparing the agenda as wards of Akali-BJP councillors were allotted development works of Rs 2 crore while wards of Congress and Azad Group councilors were given works of over Rs 6 crore. “This is sheer partiality,” alleged Akali councillor Paramjit Singh Kahlon.
Heated arguments between Cong MLA, Oppn
The House witnessed heated arguments between Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and some Akali-BJP councillors. The Opposition raised an objection to Sidhu’s presence on the dais. There was ruckus as soon as Sidhu tried to clear the air on some issue which came up for discussion. “You can’t address us. You are not the leader of the House and you have no right to sit on the dais,” said Akali councillors. Sidhu said he did not need their permission to speak or sit.
