Punjab Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu has assured that pending dues of all 438 Park Management Committees (PMCs) under Municipal Corporation Ludhiana would be cleared within a week. He has issued strict instructions to the senior MC officials in this regard.A townhouse meeting with all PMCs of Ludhiana was organised at Guru Nanak Bhawan, here today, that was chaired by Cabinet Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu. This meeting was also attended by Ludhiana (East) MLA Mr Sanjay Talwar, Ludhiana Improvement Trust Chairman Mr Raman Balasubramaniam, Senior Deputy Mayor Mr Sham Sunder Malhotra, Deputy Mayor Mrs Sarabjit Kaur Shimlapuri, District Congress Committee Ludhiana (Urban) president Mr Ashwani Sharma, Councillors Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang, Mrs Mamta Ashu, Mr Sunny Bhalla, Mr Dilraj Singh, Mr Hari Singh Brar, Mr Maharaj Singh Raji, MC Commissioner Mr Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, MC Joint Commissioner Mr Kulpreet Singh, besides several others.While speaking on the occasion, Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu informed that it was in the year 1995 when PMCs were formed initially. He said that there are a total of 870 parks under MC Ludhiana, out of which 565 are managed by 438 PMCs. He said that it is for the first time in the history of MC Ludhiana that representatives of all PMCs have been invited on a common platform for sharing their views, problems as well as suggestions.He also appreciated the role of PMCs in increasing green cover in the city. He said that even the social fabric of our society has been strengthened with the formulation of PMCs as people from all age groups contribute in managing their respective parks and take pride in doing that. He informed that soon, they would start holding a regular competition for the PMCs and the best maintained parks would be given prizes by the MC. He also urged the respective Municipal Councillors to ensure that the remaining 305 parks under MC are also maintained by the PMCs. He said that people's participation is a must if we want to actually carry out overall development of any society.
During the question answer session with members of PMCs, Mr Ashu assured that all valid suggestions given by the PMCs would be implemented in true spirit within next 2 months and if any PMC has some other suggestions too, they can submit them in writing with the MC Commissioner. He also urged the PMCs to ensure that parks can easily help in rainwater recharging if we connect them using pipes. He also appreciated some parks that have already been following this practice in several parts of the city.While replying to queries related to non clearance of pending dues of PMCs, Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu issued strict instructions to the MC officials to ensure that all bills are processed within two weeks and failure to do so would attract strict action. He also assured that he would personally ensure that all PMCs get Rs 2.50 per sq.m. and in case of smaller parks, the MC is in process of fixing a particular amount so that it does not put financial burden on the PMCs.The Cabinet Minister also stated that work of Sidhwan Canal Waterfront project phase 2 (from Jawaddi Bridge till Dugri Bridge) would be started in next 15 days and the project would be completed in 6 months time. He assured that the PMCs would get full support from his side and assured that outdoor gyms would be installed in almost all parks within a month.He also stated that his main aim is to increase green cover in the city and that is why his team is looking for vacant spaces in the city where green belts can be developed. He said that several green belts have been developed at those sites that were either garbage dumps or had vegetation. He assured that increasing green cover in the city is his foremost priority and that all residents should support him in this endeavour. Dr JS Bilga, who retired as an Executive Engineer in the Horticulture wing of MC and was instrumental in the massive tree plantation drive in the city in late 90s, was also honoured on the occasion. He also gave a presentation as to how the fallen leaves can easily be converted into compost for use in the parks.