Mohali: Govt’s baby, warts and all

Akash Ghai

When a constituency represented by an Opposition MLA gets the state government’s enthusiastic attention, there has to be something special about it. Indeed, Mohali is special, thanks to its proximity to Chandigarh, Punjab’s shared-with-Haryana capital. This predominantly urban seat got its first legislator, Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu, in 2012. Almost five years down the line, it’s being showcased as a model of development by the SAD-BJP government — as if it didn’t need an MLA at all!

So, what does Mohali boast of? There’s the international airport (never mind the controversy over its name), the state-of-the-art inter-state bus terminus, Knowledge City, reputed national institutes such as the Indian School of Business (ISB) and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), a sprawling judicial courts complex, mechanised road sweeping and a hockey stadium of international standards.

“Mohali is among the rare constituencies that witnessed development even though it didn’t vote for the ruling alliance,” says Suman Verma, a schoolteacher. Her delight is shared by Ashok Sharma, an advocate at the district courts.

However, there’s a flip side. The 200-ft-wide airport road started developing cracks and potholes within months of its construction, while the bus terminus project has missed several deadlines. There have been allegations of corruption and nepotism in the allocation of some projects, while the local administration is often accused of adopting an indifferent approach to public grievances.

Kulbir Singh, a local businessman, asks a pertinent question: “If potholes surface within six months of the completion of a road, built at a cost of Rs 15 crore, will you call it development or corruption?”

Sitting Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu tries to explain why the Badals want the area to look impressive. “As Mohali is so close to Chandigarh, no government can afford to ignore it. Also, several senior Akali and BJP leaders have vested interests here. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has built an opulent resort at Mullanpur — though it doesn’t fall in my constituency — and constructed bridges and flyovers just for the sake of his project. We can’t call this development. It’s self-service at the exchequer’s expense,” he says.

Has he been a mere spectator all these years? Sidhu claims that most of the mega projects were started during the Congress rule in the state. “These were completed during their (SAD-BJP) tenure and they are taking all the credit,” he says.

Sidhu asks us to take a round of the constituency’s rural belt, where basic amenities such as roads, streetlights and sewerage leave a lot to be desired. As we enter Kumbhra village, the heaps of garbage are a telltale sign — the beautification drive has bypassed this place. What cruelly reminds the villagers daily that they have been left out is the nearness of the Punjab Forest Department’s eco-friendly building and a string of posh houses. Riches and rags coexist, uncomfortably.

“The sewers get choked every other month. Waste water flows into the streets and the government school. The condition of the roads is pathetic,” complains Balwinder Kumbhra, a village resident.

The exodus of the industry is another sore point. “Mohali was once a promising industrial town that had major players. About 70 per cent of the units have closed down or shifted; many people have lost their jobs. They are doing menial work to make ends meet,” says Congress councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi.

Ironically, despite pumping so much money into Mohali, the ruling SAD is not on a strong footing. In 2012, going against the wishes of the local cadre, the party had fielded a parachute candidate, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia. He lost by over 16,000 votes. 

 A local Akali leader says on the condition of anonymity, “Even after his heavy defeat, Ramoowalia remained the halqa incharge — before he switched over to the Samajwadi Party. This demoralised the local party workers and leaders,” he adds. 

Paramjit Singh Kahlon, general secretary of the local SAD unit, insists that a local face can make the most of the development plank. The million-dollar questions: Will the voters repay the Akalis for the largesse? Or will they go against the grain again?

AAP factor at play

Prior to 2012, Mohali was part of Kharar Assembly constituency. In 2007, Congress candidate Balbir Singh Sidhu defeated SAD’s Jasjit Singh Bunny, son of late Akali minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, to clinch the Kharar seat. Sidhu was elected from Mohali Assembly segment (comprising the town and 78 villages) in 2012. He is likely to get the Congress ticket again. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Himmat Singh Shergill, an advocate who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Anandpur Sahib constituency (which includes Mohali segment). Shergill had polled 50,987 votes from Mohali, ahead of SAD heavyweight Prem Singh Chandumajra (43,714) and Congress stalwart Ambika Soni (35,564). For the Assembly poll, Shergill’s name was announced in the first AAP list in August. He has been campaigning in the area for the past over three months. The Mohali seat is among the few from which the SAD is yet to name a candidate.