Water and sewage tariff parity pan Mohali from January 1: Balbir Sidhu

Water and sewage tariff parity pan Mohali from January 1: Balbir Sidhu

Harshabab Sidhu
Nabaz-e-Punjab, Mohali, December 15:
In a major relief to the localities, uniform water and sewerage user charges will be applicable pan Mohali from January 1, 2021 informed Balbir Singh Sidhu, Cabinet Minister-cum-MLA Mohali Vidhan Sabha constituency.
This would come as a huge respite to the residents of Sector 66 to 69 and sector 76 to 80 who were paying relatively much higher user charges levied by GMADA as compared to those paid by their counterparts in other areas of the city to the Mohali Municipal Corporation. Notably there has been a huge disparity since GMADA charges nearly Rs 5 to Rs. 20 per Kilolitres (1000 litres) depending upon residential/commercial and other the types of water connections while the Municipal Corporation charges vary from Rs 1.80 to Rs.5 per KL.
The official resolution for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Public Health Services has been passed and GMADA has handed over first installment of Rs. 25 crore while another installment of about 20 to 25 crore rupees will be given in the month of March 2021, informed the Minister in a press conference held at Municipal Bhawan Mohali.
He said that the city development would be given a major push under Urban Environment Improvement Programme (UEIP) and Rs.20 crore has been received under the same. Besides the fresh inflow of Rs.45 crore, city beautification and development works worth Rs 100 crore are underway informed he and said that comprehensive development would be ushered into every nook and corner of Mohali. Making another important announcement, Sidhu informed that from April 1, the ensuing fiscal (Financial Year (FY)), the Mohali Municipal Corporation would takeover the maintenance of the city roads and parks from GMADA. The survey regarding completion of works by GMADA is on and thereafter O&M will be taken over. The maintenance would be easier, quick and to the public satisfaction as the local councilors would be able to identify and follow up requisite repairs and maintenance of local roads and the nearly 565 big and small parks of the city, said he.
Replying to a media query, Balbir Singh Sidhu said that during the tenure of previous government no provision of money for operation and maintenance of Public Health Services was made and hardly two installments of Rs 4 and Rs 5 crore were given in spurts to Municipal Corporation due to which the city maintenance hit a major setback. On the contrary, now all the modalities have been worked out and meticulous beautification and development is underway.