Chandigarh MC cancels study tour amid deepening fiscal crisis

Despite the fiscal deficit that has completely blocked development projects, the MC allocates ₹50 lakh every year for advisers’ study visits, raising concerns about his priorities.

In September, city mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, with the support of councilors across party lines, sought permission from the UT administration for a five-day tour of Kochi and Lakshadweep. The tour aimed to enable councilors to examine first-hand innovative waste management practices. The locations, total number of counselors attending the tournament, and the budget were not finalized at that time.

UT questioned the rationale behind the tournament

The UT administration responded with several questions, questioning the justification of the trip expenses amid the current financial crisis.

“The UT administration has sought clarification on how the MC will manage the expenses of the study tour despite pressing financial issues. But the civic body did not write back or seek permission again and even the mayor did not instruct officers to follow up on the matter. Hence, the plan for the study tour has been shelved,” MC officials said.

The study tour was proposed at a time when the MC has been unable to float new tenders for development projects since May, effectively stalling the city’s growth.

The financial crisis has affected all civic works, including those previously approved by the finance and contract committee (F&CC) and the MC General House, leaving key projects in limbo.

“We were planning to go on a study tour, but after learning about MC’s dire financial situation, we dropped the plan. Currently, our focus remains on generating more revenue and reducing our expenses so that development work can resume and residents can get the best services and amenities,” Mayor Dhalor said.

AAP spends unnecessarily: BJP

Leader of Opposition Kanwarjeet Singh Rana said, “The study tours are meant for the growth of the MC and for the learning of councillors. AAP continues to make unnecessary expenses like spending millions on new projects even when there is no need. The mayor should have followed the study tour proposal because the budget is always allocated, which cannot be used for other purposes.”

“The BJP councilors initially showed interest in the tournament, but when the mayor wrote UT, the BJP started playing politics and gave statements that they would boycott the tournament. BJP councilors show double standards. We are doing what is best for the MC at present,” countered Congress councilor Gurpreet Singh Gabi.

After last year’s opposition, AAP has supported the tournament this time

Interestingly, the AAP-led mayor and councilors expressed their support for the study tour after boycotting a similar tour in Goa last year.

BJP and Congress councillors, led by then mayor Anup Gupta, visited Goa last year to review the functioning of the garbage processing plant in the state. For the first time, the MC also took some residents of Dadumajra to Goa.

The AAP councilors along with their party leaders then held a press conference and criticized the study tour, accusing the BJP and Congress of making money from the Dadumajra landfill.

In 2022, during Mayor Sarbjit Kaur’s tenure, councilors had initially planned a tour of Goa and Mumbai. However, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit rejected the proposal, diverting the tour to Indore and Nagpur, which they eventually visited. Councilors from all parties participated in the tournament.