The Administrator’s Advisory Council (AAC) meeting held on Monday turned into BJP’s political podium, which spared no effort to ensure that all promises made in their election manifesto are included in Chandigarh Master Plan—Vision 2031.
BJP leaders, including party’s Chandigarh MP, Kirron Kher raised all the issues promised in their election manifesto released during recently concluded lok Sabha polls.
To name a few, the issue of conversion of leasehold plots into freehold, implementation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, extension of lal dora, allowing need based changes to Chandigarh Housing Board flats and many more were raised by the city BJP leaders during the AAC meeting.
However, unlike previous meeting where three BJP leaders had walked out of AAC meet protesting against alleged undemocratic attitude of Administration, the Council meeting held on Monday continued smoothly for more than five hours sans any political drama.
After witnessing ruckus at previous AAC meeting, the Administration, treading cautiously, on the issue of finalization of draft Master Plan, allowed all the members to put forth their suggestions during Monday’ s Council meet.
Most of the Council members, however, raised repetitive issues while BJP leaders mostly focused on city denizens problems. UT Administrator Shivraj Patil and senior UT officials, even had to intervene when issues, unrelated to UT Master Plan was raised by BJP leaders and other Council members during the meeting.
After the meeting, a senior official of the UT Administration, requesting anonymity said, “Many issues raised in today’s meeting were not relevant to Master Plan. The Administration had sought recommendations on draft Master Plan but the AAC members including BJP leaders came up with a number of demands which can not be included in draft Master Plan.”
“The Administration will consider the suggestions given by Council members on draft plan. And, a meeting of senior UT officials will now be held to finalize the plan at the earliest,” added the official.
At the meeting, the BJP leaders including city MP, Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon and former city MP Satya Pal Jain, apart from giving their views on draft Master Plan touched upon issues pertaining to the city.
The newly elected Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, during her maiden presence at the meet, demanded the Administration to explore options for construction of a power plant, augmentation of water supply, extension of lal dora. She also demanded that the views of the elected bodies including Zila Parishad as well as Panchayat Samitis should be considered by the Administration.
Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Tandon said, “The Administration has assured to take our views while the implementation of MSMED Act. The higher authorities have also assured us to look into our demands. Patil has rejected the demand of conversion of leasehold plots into freehold and need based changes in CHB flats, he added.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the UT Administration will bow down to the demands of BJP leaders while finalizing the draft Master Plan or will ignore their suggestions.
KK Sharma, Adviser to the UT Administrator, talking to the media said, “All the AAC members including city MP have submitted their suggestions on Master Plan and discussions were held on various issues today. We will look into all the recommendations and take a final call accordingly.”
Tandon, Jain and District President, Bhajan Singh Maru had walked out of Council’s meeting held on June 19. The BJP had also written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh apprising him about how the city MP was ignored while convening of the AAC meeting.
Complete Master Plan in eight days: Patil
Concluding the AAC discussions, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil on Monday directed the UT Administration to complete the Chandigarh Master Plan draft within eight days.
The Administrator, in continuation of the previous meeting held on June 19 had, convened the eight meeting of the Administrator’s Advisory Council to discuss the draft Master Plan (2031) as well as the report of the Board of Inquiry about the plan.
After finalization, the Draft Master Plan would be sent to the Centre for final approval. The draft Master Plan puts forth recommendations on improving areas like transport, parking, education, health services among others in the city. It has projected a holding capacity of 16 lakh population by 2030 in Chandigarh and has contrived the future plans and developmental projects keeping in view the estimated population.
Meanwhile, taking up discussions on the draft Master Plan, the Administrator expressed that the character of the city is required to be maintained while going for the future plans. The Draft Master Plan was put in public domain for inviting suggestions and objections, whereafter the Board of Enquiry was set up to hear these objections and the Administration amply discussed it, but final decision has not been taken as yet, he said.