By Amrit Pal Sidhu #Babushahi Network
Bathinda, July 7: The newly constituted Municipal Corporation House will hold its first General House meeting on Tuesday, with Mayor Padamjit Mehta presiding over a packed agenda that includes 94 development projects, the future of 150 outsourced employees, major road infrastructure proposals and several key administrative decisions.
The meeting, the first since the formation of the new House, is expected to set the civic body's policy and development priorities for the coming term.
Although the newly constituted Municipal Corporation House will hold its first General House meeting on Tuesday, the agenda does not include the election of the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Among the most significant items on the agenda is the issue of 150 outsourced employees whose services have come under uncertainty after an earlier government-approved proposal was struck down. The Municipal Corporation will seek the House's approval to challenge the decision in court, arguing that retaining the employees is essential to ensure uninterrupted sanitation services while protecting their livelihoods.
The House will also consider revised estimates for several incomplete road projects across different zones of the city. With construction costs having increased substantially, the Corporation is expected to approve fresh tenders based on the revised estimates. A separate proposal seeks approval for an additional 25 per cent funding for the re-carpeting of roads in the Civil Station area.
Another proposal relates to the purchase of a new official vehicle for the Mayor's office. Quotations for the Mahindra Bolero Neo, Mahindra Scorpio Classic, Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Scorpio-N will be placed before the House for consideration.
The civic body will also deliberate on stricter action against illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste on roads and vacant plots. The proposal recommends imposing a penalty of Rs 25,000 and confiscating vehicles found violating the rules.
Approval will be sought for floating a fresh two-year tender worth around Rs 5.31 crore for the operation and maintenance of public toilets. Another proposal seeks to lease the newly built canteen at the Rose Garden through e-auction for three years, with a reserve annual price of Rs 6 lakh.
In the water supply sector, the Corporation is likely to consider taking up the strengthening of machinery at the city's main water works on its own instead of routing the work through the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, with the aim of improving the reliability of drinking water supply.
Other proposals include setting up a company-operated fuel station for Municipal Corporation vehicles, introducing mechanised cleaning of major roads and shifting overhead electricity cables underground in prominent commercial markets.
The House will also take up approval for 94 development works spread across various wards. These include construction and widening of roads, sewerage networks, interlocking tile pavements, parks, street lighting, drinking water infrastructure, tube wells, hand pumps, welcome gates, renovation of the auditorium, construction of the Mayor's office building etc.
The meeting is also expected to approve the constitution of the Finance and Contracts Committee under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976. The committee will oversee financial approvals and contract-related decisions of the Corporation during the tenure of the newly elected House.
With several policy, financial and infrastructure proposals lined up for consideration, Tuesday's meeting is expected to lay the foundation for the new Municipal Corporation's governance and development agenda.