We will make city number 1 again: says Congress MC poll manifesto

Party manifesto focuses on public welfare and growth and development with accountability, commitment and transparency

To bring back the lost glory of ‘City Beautiful

The Voice of Chandigarh: Congress has resolved to ensure the city’s growth and development with accountability, commitment, and transparency. While releasing party manifesto for MC poll at party office at sector 35 here on Wednesday, its senior leaders including Pawan Bansal former Union Minister, Harish Choudhary, AICC Gen Sec, Abhishek Dutt, AICC Coordinator and Subhash Chawla , President Chandigarh Congress vowed to make city number 1 again, if voted to power.

The party assured to restore the lost glory of the city by resuming syncretic and sustainable development of its physical and social infrastructure.

In the past 6 years, the city has turned into a pale shadow of its past. It was known worldwide for impeccable standards it had set in cleanliness, beautiful roads, exquisite parks and good quality of life. It won the award for being the ‘Best City for Cleanliness and Sanitation’ in the country in 2014. Sadly, in the last five years, the city has nose-dived to a new low in all these areas, Cong maintained.

The manifesto said that no new taxes will be imposed on the people of Chandigarh.

The back-breaking increase in water charges and other levies imposed by BJP run Corporation shall be rolled back. Congress will bring back the old rates of sewerage tax at Rs 20 per toilet seat. The existing Sewerage tax being charged @ 30% of the water bill is the highest such tax in the country. This has burdened the people unconscionably, stated the manifesto.

Congress will enhance the revenue by claiming the rightful share of the Corporation from the share of UT’s revenues as allocated by Delhi Finance Commission and by taking other initiatives without taxing the people.

The party will also cut all wasteful expenditure, due to which the funds of the Corporation have dried up despite an increase in taxes imposed by an insensitive BJP.

Congress will ensure that the city is provided with one of the most efficient systems of potable water supply available in the country at very affordable rates. A policy to replace the old water pipes after a fixed period shall be put in place.

The party will revamp the existing garbage management system, keeping in mind the hygiene and convenience of the people. Under the new garbage collection system, maximum share of the revenue shall be given to the personnel engaged in garbage collection.

The manifesto further stated that New World-class Garbage Treatment Plants with the latest technology shall be set up on priority to bring about a sustainable solution to the present problems arising out of dumping of all garbage at Daddumajra.

Congress will restore the status of Chandigarh as a city of world-class roads. Timely carpeting and maintenance of all urban and rural roads shall be ensured. Chandigarh shall be made a pot-hole free city within six months.

CCTV cameras shall be installed on inner roads of the sectors to check anti-social elements. The house indicators installed within the sectors shall be repainted and maintained properly.

Congress is also committed to maintaining Chandigarh as a Garden City – ‘a city of parks’. 1800 parks were developed and maintained by Congress in the past to achieve this objective. Most of these parks are in bad shape now. Chandigarh Congress shall restore their glory with the active participation of the people, the manifesto said.

The parking system in the city shall be made smart in the real sense. Chandigarh Congress will provide efficient, safe, easily accessible and people-friendly parking lots at affordable rates.

Street vendors, who are residents of the city, shall be provided space for vending, ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to the residents of the concerned area. The process to get a Vendor license will be simplified and the licence fee will be slashed. Facilities to protect the vendors from vagaries of weather shall be provided.

Indira Kitchens shall be established to provide nutritious food to the people at very affordable rates of Rs 10 per meal. The mid-day meal scheme in schools, which has been one of the important social measures initiated by the Indian National Congress, shall be strengthened further.

Besides Parent – Teacher Associations shall be involved in the scheme to provide wholesome meals to the students, the party said in the manifesto.

The Property tax shall be rationalized for all categories. Gallantry award winners, Ex-servicemen, families of police & security personnel killed in action shall be exempted from paying property tax.

New smart schools will be established by the MC, where education at par with the best private schools in Chandigarh shall be provided. Existing schools currently under Municipal Corporation shall be renovated and upgraded. Free of cost school books shall be provided to the girl students.

Provisions of the ‘Right to Education Act’ enacted by the UPA government shall be implemented in letter and spirit.

Participation of people, particularly the Resident Welfare Associations, other representative bodies of the citizens, NGOs, socio-cultural and religious-cultural bodies shall be sought in implementation of the welfare schemes of the Corporation.

Chandigarh MC will take up the responsibility of providing street lights and maintenance of roads within the premises of the registered Co-operative Housing Societies.

The Corporation-run dispensaries and health centres shall be established in all sectors of the city and the present ones shall be upgraded. Special provisions for the treatment of senior citizens, women and children shall be made.

Welfare of the senior citizens always ought to be a concern for a responsive local government. The Chandigarh Congress shall establish a modern ‘old age home’ with all essential facilities.

All vacant posts in the Municipal Corporation shall be filled in a time bound manner. All daily wage employees of the Corporation shall be covered under the dictum, “Equal work – Equal pay”.

The party will introduce a separate Budget for the Villages, to ensure that their needs and aspirations are adequately addressed. Ownership rights of the properties falling within the Lal doras of villages shall be given to the occupants. Chandigarh shall be developed as a Solar city. Commercial and residential units shall be provided subsidy and other relief for installing solar plants for power generation. New Air purifying systems shall be installed in the city, manifesto said.