CHANDIGARH, June 5: A proposal by the Municipal Corporation (MC) to offer temporary water connections at double rates to residents living outside the lal dora boundaries in 22 villages has triggered sharp opposition from Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors.
The agenda, which was passed in the MC General House on Tuesday, proposes charging higher rates and one-time construction fees from those residing outside the lal dora or phirni—zones typically reserved for non-agricultural village use.
AAP councillor Hardeep Singh criticised the move, calling the extra charges a “heavy financial burden” on villagers. “Residents have waited for basic amenities like water for years. Penalising them now is unfair,” he said.
Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh echoed the sentiment. “Water is a basic necessity. These connections should be provided without imposing double rates or levying construction charges on older homes,” he said.
Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty also expressed dissent, stating: “There should not be different rates for different parts of the city. Water is a basic need.”
Despite the resistance, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla defended the decision, calling it “historic.” “The demand for water connections has been pending for long. This decision ensures access, even if on a temporary basis,” she said.
An MC official clarified that under the draft Chandigarh Water Supply Bylaws Amendment-2025, connections will be strictly temporary and contingent on documentation and conditions. Consumers will have no ownership rights, and the water supply will not translate into permanent entitlements.
The proposal will now be forwarded to the Chandigarh Administration for final approval.
The lal dora demarcates village habitation and is not meant for formal construction. However, over the years, unauthorised structures have sprung up beyond these lines, complicating infrastructure planning and regularisation efforts.
