Latest news with #HarpreetKaurBabla
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Chandigarh MC house meeting: Booking community centres gets costlier, new policy introduces membership options
Booking community centres in Chandigarh has become costlier, with rates increased by up to Rs 3,000 depending on the category. Moreover, free bookings will now only be available for the weddings of daughters of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) beneficiaries registered under the central government schemes. Under the new policy, which was approved by the Municipal Corporation in its House meeting chaired by Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla on Tuesday, the councillors will be allowed to recommend up to 20 free bookings per year — but only for DBT beneficiaries who are either EWS, labour cardholders, freedom fighters, martyr families, or farmer cardholders. These recommendations will now be valid only for community centres within or adjacent to the councillor's ward. Earlier, recommendations could be used for any centre across the city, and there was no upper limit on the number of free bookings. MC Commissioner Amit Kumar announced that the new Community Centre Management Policy will be implemented from Monday. Bookings can be made up to three months in advance through the city's contact centre. The proposal of the House will now go for approval from the Administration, and the revision in prices will be effective since then. Revised booking charges across the three categories The MC had initially proposed a 40 per cent hike, but after protests by several councillors, a moderate category-wise increase was approved. Category A: Rs 3,000 increase Category B: Rs 2,000 increase Category C: Rs 1,000 increase For example, a Category-A centre like Sector 30, which was earlier booked for Rs 48,315 (including tax), will now cost Rs 51,315. Meanwhile, community centres like Sector 19 and 33, earlier priced at Rs 24,158, will now cost Rs 27,158. Category C centres, such as Dhanas Milk Colony, will now charge Rs 5,026, up from Rs 4,026. Memberships and private operation of gyms approved The new policy also introduces annual membership options, turning community centres into mini clubs: Category A and B: Rs 1,000/ year (Rs 500 for senior citizens) Category C: Rs 500/ year (Rs 250 for senior citizens) Members will get access to indoor games, gyms, and fitness facilities. Additionally, the MC decided that gyms inside community centres will be handed over to private firms, but only with the consent of the area councillor. Councillors Taruna Mehta and Prem Lata raised objections, citing concerns over privacy and noise due to gym users wearing shorts and playing loud music near their offices. The House however resolved that gyms will only be outsourced where councillors approve.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Chandigarh: Mayor Babla about to complete 6 months, House to take up key proposals today
As Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla nears the completion of her six-month tenure, the 351st General House meeting of the Municipal Corporation, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to take up key proposals on revenue generation, renewable energy, and civic policy reforms. Elected on January 30 this year, Mayor Babla's leadership will be under close watch as several important agenda items, some new and some recurring are set to be tabled amid growing pressure from both the public and opposition parties. One of the most significant proposals up for discussion for Tuesday meeting is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society) to implement a 'rent-a-roof' rooftop solar model on nearly 100 buildings within MC jurisdiction. Under this first-time proposal, private developers will install and maintain solar panels at their own expense, and in turn, pay periodic rent to the corporation — projected to earn the MC around Rs 40 lakh annually. The initiative aims to promote clean energy while also supporting the financially stressed civic body. For improving tax compliance, the House will also take up the question seeking list of Chandigarh's top 20 property tax defaulters. Another recurring issue returning to the House agenda is the revised policy for community centre usage. The proposal includes new guidelines for free use by Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, checks on noise pollution during events, and stricter audit protocols. Initially reviewed by a committee, the policy is being placed before the House again for final debate and approval. The civic body is also planning to launch a public-private partnership model to run gyms and fitness centres in 29 community centres, with private operators to be awarded three-year renewable contracts. While the concept has been discussed previously, this marks the first formal tabling of a detailed execution plan. Meanwhile, ahead of the House session, a pre-House meeting was convened Monday at the BJP Chandigarh state office, Kamlam, Sector 33, under the leadership of state president Jitender Pal Malhotra. The meeting was attended by state vice-president Davinder Babla, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, general secretary Sanjeev Rana, and all BJP councillors. The discussions focused on finalising the party's strategy for the House, with emphasis on prioritising public issues, ensuring assertive participation, and communicating the BJP's civic policies effectively during the proceedings. The House meeting comes at a time when the corporation is struggling financially, and repeated Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) meetings have failed to approve new development projects due to budgetary constraints. Opposition councillors have criticised the ruling party for stalled projects, sanitation concerns, and poor infrastructure management across the city.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition boycotts mayor tea meeting over poor sanitation and waste management in Chandigarh
1 2 Chandigarh: The opposition parties in the municipal corporation — Congress and AAP — boycotted the tea meeting hosted by mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla on Friday. While the mayor organised the gathering to mark Chandigarh's recognition in the Swachh Survekshan, opposition leaders criticised the move, citing poor sanitation and the unresolved issue of legacy waste at Dadumajra. The city received a three-star rating despite applying for a seven-star Garbage Free City certification, largely due to missed deadlines in clearing the waste dump. AAP leaders condemned the celebration, stating, "When city roads are broken, areas are waterlogged, people are drinking unsafe water, and toxic leachate from Dadumajra is entering residential areas, holding celebrations is an insult to public pain. " They also pointed out that the city's previous high ranking came under AAP mayor Kuldeep Kumar, and accused the BJP of wrongly claiming credit. Congress leaders echoed the criticism, with councillor Gurpreet Singh saying, "It is painful that the city is struggling with sanitation and road issues, yet BJP is celebrating. Moreover, Chandigarh has been removed from the main cities list in the Swachh Survekshan." Congress also noted that the invitation to the tea meeting was received very late. The meet was attended only by BJP and nominated councillors. Mayor Babla congratulated sanitation workers, officials, and citizens for their efforts. Key action points discussed included intensive cleaning drives in back lanes and inner colonies, enhanced door-to-door waste collection, strengthened monitoring of public spaces and waste hotspots, and citizen awareness campaigns and feedback initiatives.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh bags spots in Super Swachh League, invited to Delhi award ceremony
The City Beautiful has secured a place in the prestigious Super Swachh League among cities with a population between 3 and 10 lakh in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings. A special group photograph with the President has been planned for delegates from each Super Swachh League city . (HT photo for representation) While the final rankings will be announced at the award ceremony scheduled on July 17 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of the President of India, the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) has sent invites to various cities, including Chandigarh, which will be honoured at the event. A special group photograph with the President has been planned for delegates from each Super Swachh League city . The city delegation, led by the mayor and comprising up to 10 key officials and sanitation champions, will represent Chandigarh at the national ceremony on July 17. The Super Swachh League, a special category, has been introduced in the 2024 rankings to recognise cities that demonstrate extraordinary performance in the field of sanitation. The league features cities that have ranked in the top three at least once in the last three years and in the top 20 of their respective population category in the current year's assessment. 'Chandigarh continues to set benchmarks in urban sanitation, reaffirming its status as one of India's cleanest and most sustainable cities. This recognition is a testament to the city's consistent top-tier performance in cleanliness and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission,' said mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla. It is worth mentioning that Chandigarh was ranked the 11th cleanest among cities with more than 1 lakh population in the 2023 Swachh Survekshan rankings, results of which were announced on January 11, 2024. It was an improvement from the 2022 rankings, when it was ranked 12th in the same category. Meanwhile, neighbouring Mohali and Panchkula have not received an invite for the Delhi ceremony. In the 2023 Swachh Survekshan, Mohali had climbed 31 positions to secure the 82nd rank among cities with over one lakh population, improving from 113th place in 2022. Panchkula's ranking in the 2023 assessment was 139th, a significant drop from its 86th position in 2022. Swachh Survekshan, conducted by MoHUA under the Swachh Bharat Urban Mission since 2016, is the world's largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey, in which cities are ranked on the basis of various parameters, including segregated door-to-door waste collection, zero waste events, disabled-friendly toilets, improved plastic waste management.
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Now dedicated app will help UT's street vendors to pay monthly fees, challans
In a bid to enhance digital governance and ease of doing business, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar, on Thursday launched an app and portal vendor cell web portal for registered street vendors in Chandigarh. The initiative, developed by the Society for Promotion of Information Technology, Chandigarh (SPIC), aims to bring greater transparency, convenience, and administrative efficiency for the city's vendor community, an MC official said. The app, available on Android, allows vendors to make online payments for monthly vending fees, ID cards, challans, registration, and renewal charges. Vendors can also view and download payment histories, receipts, and provisional vending certificates directly from the app. Additional features include the ability to submit service requests like mobile number updates, automated notifications about upcoming or pending payments. It is available in English, Hindi, or Punjabi — making it accessible to a wider user base. The app and Vendor Cell Web Portal ( offer a one-stop digital interface for vendor-related services. It provides access to vendor bylaws, policies, fee structures, and status verification tools. The portal also features interactive maps of designated vending zones and a public dashboard that displays real-time data on active vendors, daily transactions, and fee collection. 'This is not just a digital tool — it's a step toward empowering our street vendors and improving citizen-centric service delivery,' MC Commissioner Amit Kumar said. As part of the launch event, 20 ID cards and 20 certificates of vending (COVs) were distributed to registered vendors, symbolising the start of this new digital chapter. The MC aims to use these platforms to create a centralised, accountable, and vendor-friendly ecosystem in the city.
