Municipal Commissioner allocates funds for waste management amidst political tensions

The day after Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anindita Mitra allocated Rs 282 crore for solid and liquid waste management in accordance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, Mayor Anup Gupta sought support from UT Administrator and Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to ensure that essential development projects continue without disruption. This move comes amidst rising tensions between the Mayor and the Commissioner over recent events.

Seeking financial assurance

Mayor Anup Gupta engaged in a meeting with UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit to ensure that ongoing development initiatives are not adversely affected. During their discussion, Mayor Gupta emphasized the importance of securing sufficient funds to prevent any interruption in the tendering process for new projects. While specific measures like a special grant or an early release of the Municipal Corporation's December grant-in-aid (GIA) were discussed as potential solutions, no concrete decisions have been disclosed yet.

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Commitment to resolution

Although details of the meeting were not fully disclosed, Mayor Gupta expressed optimism about a prompt resolution, with Governor Purohit reportedly assuring his commitment to resolving the issue as soon as possible.

Parking fee discussions

In addition to financial concerns, the meeting also addressed the possibility of implementing double parking fees for four-wheelers registered outside the tricity. This discussion reflects the broader context of financial planning and management within the municipality.

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Political considerations and tensions

The recent developments highlight growing tensions between the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner. During a House meeting earlier in the week, both councillors and the Mayor pushed for an investigation into the involvement of senior officers in a corruption case, resulting in the recent arrest of two officials by the CBI.