CHANDIGARH, June 1: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today released the election manifesto for the Municipal Corporation elections. The manifesto was prepared by the Manifesto Committee headed by the Congress Legislative Party leader Mr Sunil Jakhar. The manifesto was released after it was approved by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Capt Amarinder Singh.
The manifesto promised corruption free functioning in the municipal corporations and said it will ensure zero tolerance to corruption. It promised 24 hour telephone helpline at every corporation and time bound redressal of all the complaints.
The party promised to set up “Suvidha centres” at every corporation for single window clearing of all applications. It will set up interactive portal for all corporations for online interactive services a step towards e-governance. On line payment of all municipal dues and SMS alerts for all services.
In order to ensure transparency, the party promised to extend Right to Service Act to all the services of Municipal Corporation. Especially for building plans, TS-1, land use change etc.
All the Congress Municipal Corporators will declare their audited assets and liabilities in first week of every financial year.
There will be no property tax on residential properties. Besides there will be rationalisation and reduction of property tax on commercial establishment owned by proprietorship and partnership concerns. House tax will not be charged on properties in the areas which have not been taken over by Municipal corporation.
The party promised to arrange direct central Government grants for houses for urban poor, sewerage systems, beautification of cities and water supplies from central schemes.
It promised regularisation of all unauthorised colonies within municipal limits and extension of municipal limits upto 2-5km from present municipal boundaries. Provision of water supply, electricity supply, mettled roads and sewerage in all such converted unauthorised colonies.
Other main features of the manifesto include:
100% CCTV coverage on all major city roads and on entry and exit points of cities to put check on rise of urban crime.
Allocation of dedicated budgetary support to all resident welfare associations (RWA) from municipal funds to tackle minor issues.
Construct bridges and under ways to ease traffic congestion. Also develop ring roads and bypasses to ease traffic congestion with the aid of state and central governments.
Twenty five percent of Municipal Corporation work tenders up to Rs. 12,00,000 (Twelve lacs ) to be given to unemployed youth.
Advertising thro uni-poles in Municipal corporation area will be such as to eradicate corruption and monopoly. 50 % of the advertising sites will be given to unemployed youth. Transparent advertising policy to be reframed to avoid clustering and traffic bottlenecks.
Develop multistory parking at congested commercial areas.
FAR (floor area ratio) and Height restrictions to be eased both in commercial and residential properties.
All such area and roads which have become commercial/industrial will be declared either commercial or will be permitted mixed land use. No further demolitions will happen.
All municipal works will be properly adverstised and displayed at prominent places to ensure more transparency .
No municipal land will be sold to meet regular expenses of corporation or state but will be used to create public utility assets.
Potable and hygienic drinking water and replacement of old water pipelines and water tanks in old city areas of all the corporations.
To renovate all existing parks and create at least two big municipal park in every municipal corporation of Punjab so as to have proper spatial distribution of parks for all the citizens of corporation
.
All police stations encroaching on Municipal parks will be shifted to permanent and proper place and parks will be restored to the general public.
To upgrade and modernize present solid waste management system to ensure beautification of cities. To close all open dumps and relocate them away from localities and residential areas.
To create old age day care centres with medical and library facilities in all such wards of municipal corporation where government / municipal buildings are available.
To exempt all old age and widow from tax from any commercial property upto rental income of Rs.10000 per month.
To provide proper regular space to street vendors selling fruits and vegetables in every locality under licence from Municipal corporations.
All existing ad-hoc ‘safai karamchari’will be regularized on one time basis.
Complete waiver of sewerage and water charges for residential plots upto 200 square yards.
Setting up of coordination cell at all municipal corporation to coordinate works in wards and avoid unwanted excavations for each work at separate times causing inconvenience to ward residents.
Promote active participation of NGO’s involved in pollution control , beautification and greenery of cities etc through dedicated mechanism in each and every corporation. Ensure budgetary support to NGO’s in corporation budget.
Besides the party has incorporated city specific issues for the four corporations of Ludhiana, Patiala, Jallandhar and Amritsar.
LUDHIANA CORPORATION ISSUES
Early completion of“Lakar Pull”railway over bridge by completing railway section of the bridge by direct intervention of central railway authorities.
Completion of 4832 homes for slum developers and giving possession pf homes to poor being constructed at Mundian, Gayaspura and Dhandari .
To start storm water sewerage project in Jankapuri to mitigate the problem of water logging during rains in Janakpuri, Transport nagar , Shivaji nagar and G.T.Road.
Cleaning and strengthening of “Budha Naala”. Channelising domestic and industrial waste through STP’s (sewerage treatment plants) along with lying broad sewerage pipelines. Monitoring of“Bio-remediation Budha Naala”cleaning project through a dedicated Municipal corporation cell.
To complete under construction indoor stadium at Pakhowal road within one year.
To create a world class cricket stadium in Ludhiana for national and international cricket matches from in house municipal funds.
More city buses to be added such that all schools, colleges, hospitals and religious centres are easily accessible.
Setting up of municipal schools in economically weaker wards.
JALANDHAR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
Setting up of water treatment plant in industrial clusters of Jalandhar.
House tax on industrial units to be charged on Industrial rates rather than commercial rates.
Development of Gadaipur and other industrial zones as per new master plan.
Extension of Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi to Jalandhar with central government intervention by Punjab Pardesh Congress.
To start civilian flights from Adampur air base with central government intervention by Punjab Pardesh Congress.
PATIALA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
To mitigate water shortage a Rs.200 crore canal based water supply project of getting supplies from Bhakhra Canal be implemented with direct intervention of central government.
To relocate meat and butcher shops outside residential colonies to separate hygienic slaughter houses.
To relocate dairies outside residential areas.
AMRITSAR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
To promote religious tourism in Amritsar at Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Ram Teerath and other places by beautification of their surroundings and making approach roads to these places of worship hurdle free. Developing Air conditioned pilgrimage friendly information centres at Railway station , Bus Stands and at prominent entry and exit points of the city.
Railway over bridges to be constructed at Jora Phatak, Bhagtanwala ,Gain market,Taran Taran road, and Valla Mandi.
Town Hall where Municipal corporation office and Police offices are situated will not be shifted from present location.
Acute water shortage in city inspite of more than 150 tube wells will be addressed by converging it with Canal water system duly filtered through RO system.