Mohali Municipal Corporation Rolls Out 'Area Stewardship' Initiative for Enhanced Civic Services
In a significant move to bolster grassroots governance, the Mohali Municipal Corporation has officially launched a citizen-centric "Area Stewardship" drive. This innovative program aims to ensure that civic issues are addressed with unprecedented speed and efficiency, directly benefiting residents across the city.
Swift Resolution of Civic Complaints
Under this new initiative, Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu announced on Friday that concerns related to sanitation, solid waste management, park cleanliness, bush cutting, and street lighting will be resolved within a strict 24-hour timeframe. Additionally, matters concerning water supply, sewerage, and road maintenance are to be handled on a priority basis, ensuring minimal disruption to daily life.
Designated Officers for Closer Supervision
The core of the "Area Stewardship" drive involves assigning specific phases, sectors, villages, and road stretches within municipal limits to designated officers and officials. These individuals serve as area custodians, tasked with closer supervision and quicker redressal of civic issues. Commissioner Sandhu emphasized that this structured approach enables more effective monitoring and accountability at the local level.
To facilitate this, the Municipal Corporation has designated area in-charges for every locality, complete with their official contact numbers. Key officers include:
- Varinder Kumar Jain, Assistant Commissioner for Sector 76
- Manpreet Singh, Assistant Commissioner for Sectors 117, 74A TDI, and Baliyali village
- Jagjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner for Sectors 64 and 48C
Additionally, several executive engineers, SDOs, engineers, inspectors, and building inspectors have been allocated clearly demarcated areas. A detailed list is being issued to empower residents to directly approach the responsible officer for their specific locality.
Enhanced Monitoring and Accountability Measures
The initiative is part of ongoing random surprise inspections directed by the Punjab Local Government Department, aimed at strengthening service delivery and improving the quality, continuity, and accountability of civic services. Commissioner Sandhu outlined several mechanisms to ensure compliance:
- Regular Surprise Inspections: Officers will conduct unannounced checks, with even minor shortcomings recorded in writing for timely rectification within fixed deadlines.
- Daily Inspection Registers: All designated officers are required to maintain daily logs to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
- Weekly Review Meetings: The Medical Officer (Health) will oversee sanitation and solid waste management services, while the chief engineer or concerned XEN will monitor engineering works, facilitating corrective actions as needed.
Real-Time Coordination via Digital Platforms
To further streamline operations, a dedicated "Municipal Services Reporting and ATR" WhatsApp group is being established. This platform will allow for real-time sharing of field observations and tracking of action taken reports, enabling faster coordination and response among officials.
Transition to Full Responsibility
Commissioner Sandhu noted that after a brief transition period, the responsibility for reporting and addressing service deficiencies will squarely lie with the designated officers. He stated unequivocally that "any delay in action will be attributable to the staff concerned," underscoring the drive's focus on accountability and performance.
This "Area Stewardship" initiative represents a proactive step by the Mohali Municipal Corporation to enhance urban living standards, ensuring that civic issues are not just reported but resolved with efficiency and transparency, ultimately fostering a more responsive and accountable local government.
