Chandigarh, July 14 — Just four days after its last meeting with Union Territory Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday returned to the Raj Bhavan demanding a court-monitored CBI or SIT probe into two major civic projects that, the party alleges, have become symbols of systemic corruption in Chandigarh.
The AAP delegation, led by city unit president Vijaypal Singh, submitted a memorandum seeking urgent investigation into what it termed the Community Centre Booking Scam and the ₹75-crore Manimajra 24×7 Water Supply Project, both of which fall under the Smart City initiative.
“These are not isolated lapses — they reflect a breakdown of accountability and misuse of public funds,” said Singh. “We demand nothing less than a CBI probe monitored by the courts.”
AAP alleged large-scale forgery in the functioning of the Municipal Corporation’s Community Centre Booking Branch. According to the memorandum, families legally entitled to free bookings — particularly those from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) — were forced to pay between ₹10,000 and ₹55,000 using forged slips, counterfeit seals, and fake councillor signatures.
“This is not just financial corruption, this is daylight robbery from the poor,” said Singh, who added that the scam may run over ₹100 crore and involves booking officials, middlemen, and political backing.
Fake discounts were allegedly promised to ineligible individuals, while genuine beneficiaries were extorted in cash with no official records to show for it. “A system of exploitation has been created, not a public service,” Singh stated.
AAP also flagged grave concerns with the ₹75-crore Manimajra water supply project, calling it a complete failure in both delivery and financial transparency. The pilot project, launched under the Smart City initiative, was supposed to ensure uninterrupted water supply — but AAP said no locality is receiving proper service.
“This is not a pilot project — it’s a pilot disaster,” Singh said. “Tenders are missing, no zone gets 24×7 water, the project head has been absent since October 2024, and yet, payments are being cleared with no oversight.”
Among the issues raised were contaminated water supply, delays in infrastructure, and a €48 million loan component left unhedged, which AAP claims has increased Chandigarh’s financial vulnerability.
Singh emphasized that the water crisis extends far beyond Manimajra, with several city sectors and villages suffering from low pressure, erratic flow, and murky water quality.
In its memorandum, AAP called for a CBI probe into the community centre scam, seizure of all physical and digital records, and immediate suspension of officials involved. For the water project, the party demanded a CBI or SIT probe under the supervision of a sitting judge, suspension of further Smart City fund disbursal, and a citywide audit of water supply infrastructure.
“The people of Chandigarh deserve clean governance and clean water. Neither is being delivered right now,” said Singh.
The administration has yet to issue a formal response.
