Tribune impact: Rights panel issues notice to MC Chief Engineer, Vigilance Dept

Taking suo motu notice of the Chandigarh Tribune news report “Vigilance launches probe into 24X7 water supply project in Manimajra”, the Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the MC Chief Engineer and the UT Vigilance Department.

The commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and member Justice Gurbir Singh, has directed the MC Chief Engineer and the Vigilance Department to submit their reports a week before the next date of hearing on July 31.

The commission, in its order, says it has perused the news item published in the leading daily newspaper, which say the Vigilance Department has launched a probe into the 24X7 water supply pilot project in Manimajra after the allegations of corruption in the execution of works, and the investigating officer has sought certified copies of the complete record. Residents stated that they have been receiving muddy water supply since the project was launched and the new system was started without replacing the old pipelines.

The commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and called for a report from the UT Vigilance Department and the MC Chief Engineer. They have been asked to submit their reports a week before the next date of hearing, said the commission, adding that the XEN concerned has also been directed to appear before the panel on the next date of hearing along with the report.

The commission has directed that a copy of the order, along with a copy of the news item, be sent to the Chandigarh MC Commissioner and the Secretary, Local Bodies, UT, for information.

The Chandigarh Tribune report highlighted that the Vigilance Department started the probe into the pilot project after city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging corruption in the works. He alleged that certain corrupt officers are ruining the Prime Minister’s dream of Viksit Bharat: 2047.

The project was inaugurated by Amit Shah in August last year. Funds worth Rs 75 crore were allocated for the project under the Smart City Mission. Malhotra said the whole project has collapsed and nobody is held accountable for this wastage of Rs 75 crore.

Assn opposed project in 2021

RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, said he opposed the project in 2021 and wrote to the Prime Minister Office against it.

Garg said the per capita availability of water here is already double the national average of 135 litres per day. It is a known fact that almost 35% of the water gets wasted due to leaking pipes. This reflects the poor water management by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Plan complete failure: Manimajra councillor

Terming the project a complete failure, local councillor Suman Sharma has accused the BJP of wasting Rs 75 crore of public money.

She said the BJP imposed the project on the people of Manimajra. They were happy getting the clean water supply in the morning and evening before the project was launched. Now, they are forced to install ROs. Besides, they are getting high bills after the installation of smart water meters, she claimed.

Chandigarh