Lack of transparency plagues the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. Out of 23 RTI queries posed the MCC refuses to provide information on 20 questions. Don’t the taxpaying citizens of Chandigarh deserve answers?
In shocking governance lapses, the MC has submitted that it does not have information on many crucial aspects around Paid Parking, CCTV camera installations, contractor payments and available parking slots.
The BJP led MC is refusing to provide the copies of the agreements it has entered into with all the paid parking contractors in the name of trade secrets, intellectual property etc.
These are some of the glaring revelations that have come to light thanks to a recent RTI application filed by AAP’s Election in-charge for MC Chander Mukhi Sharma. Mr Sharma has been relentlessly campaigning for transparency within the working of the MCC.
“It is quite clear that MCC is intentionally being evasive in its replies. The real question is, who are they trying to protect, and at whose behest?” Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma said. “Chandigarh’s BJP Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma must take full responsibility for not ensuring accountability of the Municipal Corporation, and must resign immediately.”
In its RTI reply dated 13/08/2021, the MC has revealed that it imposes parking fines ranging from Rs 500/- to 10,000/-. At the same time MC has refused to divulge the details of the amounts on account of penalty/violation, claiming that the information is “scattered across dozens of files”.
Additionally, the MC has stated that it does not even maintain basic data on the number of two-wheelers & four-wheelers that can be accommodated within its paid parking sites. The MC has also claimed that it does not have any information on whether its contractors/licensees have been making payments for electricity connections of all the paid parking lots.
“BJP is supporting the parking mafia and harassing the public in the name of smart parking. There is nothing smart in the paid parking except being an organized racket by the BJP,” Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma said.
How can the MC deny supplying such essential information? How can the MC not have any idea of the number of paid parking slots available under its direct supervision & jurisdiction?
“Especially when it pertains to crucial and sensitive queries around CCTV camera installations ̶ which have a direct impact on the safety of Chandigarh’s citizens especially women’s security ̶ the Parking Branch has passed the buck, saying the matter relates to the Executive Engineer, Road Division No 1 & 3 of the MCC,” Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma said. “AAP will continue pursuing this issue and expose the mafia raj of the BJP until all the information is disclosed in public interest.”
