
UT renews case for add'l MC grant before Centre
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Chandigarh: The UT administration has formally reiterated its demand for an additional financial grant for the Municipal Corporation (MC) during a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by chief secretary of Chandigarh and Nitesh Kumar Vyas, additional secretary (UT), ministry of home affairs, who was in the city to assess the progress of various centrally sponsored flagship schemes.
During the meeting, the finance department of the UT administration presented a detailed PowerPoint presentation outlining the financial condition of the MC, including income, expenditure, and fiscal challenges.
The administration urged the Centre to release additional funds in line with the recommendations of the 4th Delhi Finance Commission (DFC), citing the need for improved civic services and infrastructure.
The financial discussion was led by the chief secretary and finance secretary, who highlighted the urgency of the grant and the rationale behind the request. The matter had already been raised with the ministry of home affairs earlier, and the meeting served to reinforce the demand.
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Later in the day, mayor Harpreet Kaur Babal also met the additional secretary and echoed the administration's concerns, requesting financial support to ensure the MC's effective functioning.
Apart from financial matters, the meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of 30 flagship schemes currently operational in Chandigarh. Senior officials from various departments presented updates on programmes related to education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social security, and more.
The administration showcased progress in key national missions such as Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY), Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban), Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban 2.0, Smart Cities Mission, PMAY-U, NHM, Samagra Shiksha, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Ease of Doing Business, and Digital India.
The review also included an assessment of the rollout of three new criminal laws and associated digital platforms like e-Sakshya, Nyay Setu, Nyay Shruti, and e-Summon.
A live demonstration of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) was presented, followed by a visit to CENCOPS in Sector 18 to observe its on-ground functioning.
The additional secretary appreciated the administration's efforts and stressed the importance of timely execution, data-driven monitoring, inter-departmental coordination, and community participation for effective service delivery. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Mandip Singh Brar (Home Secretary), Pushpendra Kumar (DGP), Diprava Lakra (Finance Secretary), and other key personnel.
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