Funds not released, Sec 35 association to surrender parks
After receiving no funds for the past many months, one more Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of Chandigarh has threatened to surrender parks to Municipal Corporation (MC).
Major RS Gujral (retd), of the Chandigarh Defence Colony Welfare Association, Sector 35, said in 2019, the MC handed over
44 neighbourhood parks and green belts of the sector for maintenance to their association.
The parks were in a poor condition. He said, “Over the years, ours team comprising women, other residents and senior defence officers helped to bring up parks to desired standards.”
He said, “But, the MC has not given us funds for months’ altogether. Till April 2025, the MC owes Rs 13.62 lakh to our RWA. This amount includes 1.70 lakh payment for the month of April.”
This money was paid from funds of the Chandigarh Defence Colony Welfare Association, Sector 35, he said.
The last payment received from the MC was in August 2024, he said.
Gujral said, “Our association will be sending a letter to the Governor to inform him that we will stop working from April 30 this year as we do not have any funds to pay workers who maintain parks.”
He said, “We had to break fixed deposits of the association to pay workers. We have lost interest on the premature withdrawal of the fixed deposits. Chandigarh Defence Colony Welfare Association, Sector 35, is the oldest RWA of the UT. It was registered in 1984.”
He said the MC paid Rs1.70 lakh per month for the maintenance of the 44 parks in Sector 35. The association did not take any contribution from residents, he said. Over the years the association had collected funds from initial donations given by some residents, he added. The financial condition of the MC was worsening with each passing day, he said.
Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman, Federation of Sector Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOWA), said, “If money is not released then many more associations will surrender parks. The conditions of parks in the city is deteriorating day by day.”
Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said as the MC was facing financial crunch, there was problem in making payments to RWAs. She said once the civic body gets funds, RWAs would get their payments.
Chandigarh