Subhechcha Ganguly 
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has temporarily diverted ₹6 crore from its pension fund to pay the pending electricity bill for the Kajauli Waterworks. Senior accounts branch officer Samar Singh confirmed that the funds would be replenished once the grant-in-aid is received next month. However, the move has sparked controversy, with the MC already grappling with a growing financial crisis. The corporation faces escalating liabilities, including outstanding bills and committed payments exceeding ₹100 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Salaries for both regular and outsourced staff for February and March, along with contractor payments, remain unpaid due to insufficient revenue generation.
Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty strongly criticized the diversion of pension funds and held discussions with Samar Singh. Bunty argued that the payment for the Kajauli Waterworks bill should be the responsibility of the UT administration, not the civic body. He also pointed out that the UT administration had shifted the burden of streetlight bills, which were previously covered by them, onto the MC, further straining its finances. “The administration is pressuring the MC and pushing it toward financial instability,” Bunty said, calling the move “unacceptable and condemnable.” Meanwhile, the MC continues its efforts to recover pending property tax dues and explore internal revenue sources to ease its financial burden.
