Mohali: The first meeting of the newly elected Zirakpur municipal council Tuesday saw sharp exchanges as 14 opposition councillors opposed several resolutions, with a proposed Rs 323 crore sewerage and sewage treatment project emerging as the main flashpoint.Councillors from the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP said they were not against upgrading the town’s sewerage system but questioned why such a major project was being cleared without a detailed discussion in the house.The meeting was chaired by council president Gurpreet Singh Virk and attended by Derabassi MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa.The opposition councillors demanded that details of the project, including its cost, funding pattern and capacity, be placed before the house before any decision was taken.“Discussion should come first and the decision later,” the councillors said, asserting that elected representatives should have a greater role in deciding development works in their wards.The opposition members also raised concerns over the functioning of executive officer Parvinder Bhatti, alleging that ward-related issues were not being addressed promptly and that their calls often went unanswered.They further claimed that opposition councillors were not being adequately involved in development-related decisions.The differences marked a stormy start for the new council, with the Rs 323 crore sewerage project becoming the biggest point of contention.NK Sharma seeks answers on MC payments, projectsFormer Derabassi MLA and SAD leader NK Sharma has sought details of payments, tenders and development works undertaken by the Zirakpur municipal council.Sharma alleged that around Rs 32 lakh was paid for water supply work without a council resolution and sought details of the approval and tender process. He also claimed that contractors were paid Rs 37-40 crore in the past three months and demanded details of the related work orders and tenders.On the Rs 323 crore sewerage project, Sharma sought details of its status and fund utilisation, alleging that main sewer lines in some areas remained blocked despite ongoing expenditure.He also questioned the reported monthly spending of Rs 40 lakh on sewer cleaning and asked why outside agencies were being engaged when the council had its own staff and machinery.Sharma further demanded a probe into the proposed sale of around four acres of land in Nabha Sahib village, claiming its market value exceeded Rs 100 crore while the proposed sale price was Rs 16 crore. He also called for regular council meetings and greater focus on basic civic services.
