The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, July 26
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced significant decisions to enhance the powers of Councillors within Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees. Besides, he also announced the introduction of meeting allowance for these representatives. Chief Minister stated that until Ward Committees are formally established, the Councillors of the respective wards will be granted full authority to ensure the acceleration of development work within their wards.
In addition, if a Secretary is not appointed to the Ward Committee or is absent from a meeting for any reason, the councillor will have the authority to provide a remuneration of Rs. 1000 per meeting to a graduate for preparing the meeting’s proceedings. Councillors will also receive a meeting allowance for serving as chairpersons at each quarterly meeting of the ward committee.
The Chief Minister made these announcements while addressing public representatives from across the state at the state-level conference of urban local bodies in Hisar today.
Committee formed to increase honorarium of Municipal Body representatives
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced the formation of a committee led by the Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies, Subhash Sudha, to increase the honorarium for Municipal Body representatives. He mentioned that this committee will soon present its report after consulting with all stakeholders.
Nayab Singh Saini announced that councillors of Nagar Palikas will now receive a meeting allowance of Rs. 1600 for attending quarterly meetings. Similarly, councillors of Nagar Parishads will receive Rs. 2400, and councillors of Nagar Nigams will receive Rs. 3000. Additionally, for organizing events on August 15 and January 26, councillors of Nagar Nigams, Nagar Parishads, and Nagar Palikas will be granted amounts of Rs. 30,000, Rs. 20,000, and Rs. 10,000 respectively, when the Chief Minister or Union Minister attends the program.
Councillors will monitor all development works in their respective wards
The Chief Minister said that all municipal councillors will monitor various tasks within their respective wards. These tasks include budgeting for development works and any change, managing cleanliness, land development or CLU and zoning plan work, maintaining playgrounds, roads, and street lights, monitoring health center activities, ensuring water supply, managing education and health services, and arranging basic services for the urban poor. He also mentioned that it will now be mandatory for relevant department employees to attend ward committee meetings. Councillors will also benefit from medical facilities under the Ayushman Bharat – Chirayu Yojana, he added.
Describing councillors as the “government of cities,”Nayab Singh Saini said that the current state government is focusing on strengthening urban infrastructure. The Metropolitan Development Authority has been established for the development of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Hisar, and Panchkula. Additionally, the honorarium for the Mayor, Chairman, and members of Municipal Corporations, Councils, and Committees has been significantly increased. He said that the state government has taken several steps to decentralize the powers of urban local bodies, including the direct election of Mayors.
Congress has nothing to offer but lies
Targeting the opposition, Nayab Singh Saini said that the Congress has nothing to offer but lies. He said that opposition leaders misled the public with false statements during the last elections. They claimed that if Narendra Modi became Prime Minister for the third time, he would abolish the Constitution. However, under his leadership, the country has been governed according to the Constitution for the past 10 years. Upon taking office for the third time, the Prime Minister’s first actions were to benefit farmers and ensure that the poor have housing.
The Chief Minister said that the opposition now demands accountability from the current government, even though the public has repeatedly rejected them, placing them in opposition for the third time. In a poetic tone, he said, “Ve Dil Mein Kasak Aur Chehre Par Naqab Liye Firte Hain, Jinke Khud Ke Khate Kharab Hain Wo Hamara Hisab Liye Firte Hain”.
He also criticized the previous government for auctioning jobs to the wealthy. In contrast, his government provides jobs based on merit, ensuring that even children from poor backgrounds can become HCS officers in Haryana without any financial burden or favoritism.
Development efforts are being further accelerated under Chief Minister leadership – Subhash Sudha
On this occasion, the Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies, Subhash Sudha, commended former Chief Minister Manohar Lal for his developmental work under the “Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas” initiative over the past nine years. He said that under the leadership of the current Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, development efforts are being further accelerated. Mr. Sudha highlighted that approximately 800 unauthorized colonies have been approved, a 15% discount has been provided for paying outstanding property taxes, and both villages and cities have been freed from Lal Dora. He mentioned that he has visited about 20 local bodies so far and has suspended about 30 officials based on complaints from councillors. Any negligence by officials in respecting elected representatives will result in action against them. The Chief Minister will announce numerous benefits to public representatives today, enhancing their respect and recognition, he added.
There is no shortage of funds for development works – Dr Kamal Gupta
Addressing the program, Health Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta stated that currently, there is no shortage of funds for development works within urban local bodies. He mentioned that during his tenure overseeing urban local bodies, 87 bodies in the state had Rs. 5169 crore in their accounts. He said that the present government is continually taking steps to make municipalities self-reliant. Both former Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal and the current Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini have undertaken numerous initiatives to enhance the powers of the local governments.
State President of Bharatiya Janata Party Mohan Lal Badauli, Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Ranbir Gangwa, MLA Vinod Bhayana, Jogi Ram Sihag, Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Vikas Gupta along with other officers and dignitaries were also present.
