Foswac sends open letter to candidates listing Chandigarh's problems

CHANDIGARH: An open letter listing an eight-point agenda of the Federation of Sector Welfare Associations (Foswac) was sent to contesting candidates of Lok Sabha elections to apprise them of the issues faced by Chandigarh residents.
J S Gogia, general secretary of Foswac has particularly objected to the garbage processing plant in Dadumajra saying that the foul smell emanating from it is unbearable for those who live in the area.He suggested that the plant should be shifted from the city.
The letter also mentioned that the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, should be implemented rigorously to vacate Sector 17 of encroachers.
The letter also alleged that the city spent only less than 10% of the budget in the last four years.
Traffic is also an important issue, said the letter. It stresses on the need for an underground community parking for the congested southern sectors. It also suggested that the authorities should revisit the various plans made to decongest traffic, like Metro, periphery rail link or rapid transport system, and put an alternative transport system in place before it is too late.
The letter also mentioned the increasing instances of snatchings and other crimes in the city and urged the administration to install CCTVs at strategic places as well as allow the citizens to construct security gates as is being done in other cities.
Stating that 90% of more than 60,000 Chandigarh Housing Board units have been entangled in litigation over need-based changes made over a period of time, the letter said it is time this is sorted out too.
Considering its rapid growth, Chandigarh should be allotted a bigger budget so that infrastructure could also keep in pace with the expansion, said the letter.
The open letter was sent to all candidates irrespective of the party affliation so that whoever comes to power will know what ails Chandigarh and its residents, said the members of Foswac.