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The Punjab Local Bodies Department has decided to hold a meeting on July 5 to discuss the merger of Kharar and Zirakpur Municipal Councils into Mohali Municipal Corporation.
The Punjab Local Bodies Department has asked all senior town planners to remain present during the July 5 meeting. The proposed meeting, which the government claims will be to discuss technicalities of the merger, has drawn widespread criticism from councillors of both the municipal councils.
Mohali Deputy Mayor, Kuljeet Singh Bedi, has termed the move as ‘cheating’ the people, while also stating that he would bring a resolution against the proposal in the next general House meeting of Mohali civic corporation.
Terming the government’s move as a ‘big betrayal’, Bedi said that if needed he will also knock on the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, if needed, to stall the proposed merger.
Bedi said that Zirakpur and Kharar councils have about Rs 800 crore in their accounts and both the civic bodies have the right to pass layout plans and Change of Land Use (CLUs), which are a major source of income.
“Instead of merging them with the Mohali Municipal Corporation, these cities need to be made separate corporations so that their complete development can take place,” Bedi said.
He then accused the state government of doing politics at the cost of development. He said that both Zirakpur and Kharar have expanded and developed in the last few years and both the towns now need to have municipal corporations to cater to the development works.
Stating further, Bedi said that all works related to the sale of property and layout plans in Mohali are being looked after by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and if the civic bodies are merged, both Kharar and Zirakpur shall suffer financial losses.
“The government is eyeing the panchayat lands falling in Kharar and Zirakpur,” Bedi added. He also added that the municipal corporation had already passed a resolution to take the areas of Sector 90-91 and Sector 82, including Balongi, under its jurisdiction. He said that Aero City and IT City can also be included in it.
SAD leader Parminder Singh Sohana, too, opposed the government’s move and said that his party shall protest in case such a decision is taken by the government.
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