The F&CC will take up development projects, including carpeting of potholed roads in Ludhiana, at its meeting to be held on Monday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 19

Ahead of the state Assembly elections in 2022, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is planning various development works in city wards in the coming year. The MC’s Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) would take a decision on proposals for various development projects in its upcoming meeting scheduled to be held on Monday.

It is learnt that over 450 proposals related to different branches of the MC are likely to be presented before the panel. According to information, proposals regarding construction or carpeting of roads, works related to water supply and installation/repair of tube wells, cleaning of sewers with super suction machines, development of parks and others are part of the agenda to be tabled at the meeting.

Notably, the funds starved MC was planning to take loan of Rs 100 crore for development works in the city.

The MC is planning to purchase a mechanical sweeping machine (truck). This machine will be purchased from funds provided under the National Clean Air Programme. The estimated cost of one machine is around Rs53.10 lakh. The operation and maintenance cost of the machine is around Rs63 lakh for three years.

The civic body is also planning to buy 15 new fogging machines at an estimated cost of Rs11.33 lakh.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in MC House, Harbhajan Singh Dang, who had earlier blamed the civic body for ignoring development in wards of opposition councillors, said, “We have been given assurance that development works will be carried out in all wards. We hope that the F&CC will give approval to all proposals regarding development works.”

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said they would discuss various development proposals at the meeting on Monday. New as well as pending development works would be taken up in all wards under the MC, he added.

Monetary allowance to firefighters

The F&CCwill also take decision on a proposal to pay monetary allowance to the kin of nine firefighters, who lost their lives in plastic manufacturing factory fire incident in November 2017. Three firefighters, who were seriously injured in another mishap in 2017, will also be considered for compensation. All firefighters were awarded President’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry, posthumously.