AAP accuses BJP of making money from Dadu Majra Dump

Chandigarh : The AAP accuses the BJP of milking the Dadu Majra garbage dump to make money and play politics at the cost of the UT residents.Addressing a press conference here, AAP leader Malwinder Singh Kang said it was very unfortunate that BJP not only passed the 400-crore plant by undemocratic means but the Governor and administrator Banwari Lal Purohit also chose to put a stamp on their machinations.
He was accompanied by Prem Garg, Pradeep Chhabra and all the councillors including Jasbir Singh Laddi, Yogesh Dhingra Jaswinder Kaur, Anju Katyal,Prem lata ,Neha Musawat and others . Dadu Majra, once a thriving community, has now become a victim of political maneuvering at the expense of its people’s welfare.
It is with great disappointment that we highlight the shameless politicization of the issue by both the BJP and Congress parties. While they indulge in power games, the urgent matter at hand, the mounting waste crisis, continues to wreak havoc on the environment and public health.
The root of the garbage problem can be traced back to the previous Congress administration, which irresponsibly outsourced waste disposal to a private company. Over the course of 17 years, the waste has tripled, resulting in hazardous garbage mountains that pose a grave threat to the community.
Instead of taking responsibility, politicians and their cronies (officers) have shamelessly exploited the situation for personal gain. Corrupt practices and embezzlement of substantial funds, amounting to hundreds of crores, have become the norm while the people suffer.
In this dire situation, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh and Members of Parliament share equal responsibility but have failed to effectively address the crisis. Despite multiple attempts to involve different companies and inaugurate processing plants, the contamination problem persists, and financial resources are squandered.
During the 2021 elections, the people of Chandigarh, including Dadu Majra, placed their trust in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the hopes of a cleaner and corruption-free city. With a majority of 14 AAP councillors, it is appalling that the BJP resorted to illegal means to seize the mayor’s role, disregarding the democratic process.
The dangers posed by the waste dump were brought to light by the esteemed Punjab Engineering College (PEC). Impact on health was also which were also considering penalties imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). However, the corrupt officers of the Municipal Corporation and politicians continued awarding contracts for waste management without delivering any substantial results.
AAP bravely exposed this corruption and demanded an inquiry into financial mismanagement. Unfortunately, no action was taken due to the political affiliation of those involved with the BJP.To make matters worse, a new company has recently been granted a contract despite strong opposition from AAP councillors.
As a consequence, these councillors were unfairly expelled from the house, raising serious concerns about impartiality when an absent MP suddenly appeared for the session.The lack of transparency surrounding various expenses, including study tours and plant operations, is deeply troubling and demands clarification.
Moreover, the religious sentiments of the Sikh community were deeply hurt when an MP resorted to offensive comments to influence the contract selection in favor of a specific company. Adding to the complexity, the governor seemed to act as a spokesperson for the BJP, intimidating councillors and insisting on the selection of a Nagpur-affiliated organization.
Throughout this distressing ordeal, the BJP has abandoned democratic principles, refusing to engage in meaningful discussions while the people suffer and the city’s environment deteriorates.The voices of relevant agencies and experts have been consistently ignored, with the BJP solely focused on issuing contracts to their preferred parties.
We strongly demand that the house reconvenes for a transparent debate and voting process, allowing the public to have a say in how their hard-earned money is utilized and which waste management company is selected. Additionally, an immediate investigation into past corruption must be launched as per the law, and a special meeting should be convened without any further delay.
Dadu Majra deserves responsible governance, free from the clutches of political gamesmanship. The health, well-being, and environmental integrity of the city’s residents should be the utmost priority for all political parties involved.
Therefore, we urgently call for a special house meeting, in accordance with the provision of law. Section 55(2) of The Punjab Municipal Corporation Act , 1976 (as extended to Chandigarh).