Chandigarh Mayor Presents One-Year Report Amid AAP Allegations of Mismanagement
Outgoing Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla presented a comprehensive account of works, reforms, and initiatives undertaken during her one-year tenure in the Municipal Corporation on Friday. This presentation occurred even as the Aam Aadmi Party leveled serious accusations of negligence, financial mismanagement, and scams against the BJP-led civic body.
Mayor Babla Highlights Financial Stabilization and Infrastructure Improvements
Addressing the media, Babla emphasized that her term, which concludes on January 29, was characterized by coordinated efforts involving MC officials, the UT administration, and BJP leadership. These efforts aimed to stabilize the corporation's finances and enhance civic services across Chandigarh.
When I assumed office on January 30, 2025, the financial condition of the MC was extremely poor, and even disbursement of salaries had become difficult, Babla stated. We addressed this through coordination with the administration, officials and the BJP organisation, and by taking firm decisions.
To bolster transparency and operational efficiency, the Finance and Contract Committee was constituted unanimously, followed by the establishment of other subcommittees. Babla also highlighted significant financial support, noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs approved a Rs 125 crore grant for the MC. This funding, guided by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, played a crucial role in strengthening essential services and infrastructure throughout the city.
Key Infrastructure and Environmental Initiatives
Listing major infrastructure accomplishments, Babla reported that rusted water supply and sewerage pipelines were replaced in most parts of the city. The remaining work is scheduled for completion soon at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore. Regarding road projects, works worth Rs 20 crore out of the Rs 40 crore allocated for V-4, V-5, and V-6 roads have been finished. The V-3 road project is being executed by the Chandigarh administration, resulting in an estimated saving of Rs 45 crore for the MC.
On sanitation and environmental fronts, Babla claimed that 95% of waste from the Dadumajra dumping ground has been removed. An MoU has been signed for setting up a compressed biogas plant for organic waste disposal, with land identification completed on January 19, 2026. Additionally, the long-pending MoU for door-to-door garbage collection was finalized after six years, and payment of Rs 3 crore towards sanitation workers' material, pending for 32 months, was ensured.
AAP Accuses BJP-Led MC of Failures and Financial Irregularities
Meanwhile, the Chandigarh unit of AAP launched sharp criticism against the BJP-led Municipal Corporation, alleging failures on multiple key fronts. AAP contended that recent heavy rainfall exposed civic negligence and reflected poorly on the mayor's one-year tenure.
In a statement, Aam Aadmi Party's Chandigarh president Vijaypal Singh described the tenure as marked by scams, failed projects and anti-people policies. He pointed out that waterlogging continued to submerge vehicles, repeating last year's problematic situation.
Rejecting the BJP's claims, Singh argued that despite the mayor earlier labeling the MC's finances as pathetic, the corporation's debt allegedly rose to Rs 2,500 crore during her tenure. He claimed that salaries and pensions remain pending and disputed the assertion regarding the settlement of sanitation workers' dues.
Singh further alleged that the Rs 125 crore grant was misleadingly portrayed as central assistance, asserting it was actually the MC's rightful share from electricity department earnings. He also contended that water and electricity tariffs were raised by 40-50%, while property tax increased by 25%, placing additional burdens on residents.
AAP also questioned revenue projections, accusing the MC of inflating claims related to festivals, advertisements, and licence fee collections, with alleged losses amounting to ₹500 crore. The party cited the failure of the ₹166 crore Manimajra 24x7 water supply project due to leakages, corruption flagged in a CAG audit, and incomplete pipeline works as further evidence of mismanagement.
