CHANDIGARH, May 10 — Former Union Minister and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari has called upon the UT Administrator to adopt relief measures for the city’s economically weaker sections by providing free essential services. In a detailed letter, the lawmaker declared that the administration should reimburse distribution companies to provide 300 units of free power and 20,000 litres of water to families categorized as urban poor or lower-middle class. He affirmed that this model is both socially impactful and financially viable under the current budgetary estimates.
Tewari maintained that between the actual spending of the previous fiscal year and current estimates, there is a surplus of over ₹850 crore within the power and renewable energy sector that could be leveraged for these subsidies. Regarding water supply, he asserted that the required ₹15-20 crore for the poor is negligible when compared to the hundreds of crores committed to external loans for city-wide projects. He maintained that the Municipal Corporation could easily manage these costs if the administration supports the democratic decisions of the General House.
The MP recalled that the resolution to provide free water was reaffirmed by the House after being initially rejected, asserting that the legal validity of the move stands. He declared that Chandigarh, as a Union Territory, should have no difficulty securing the necessary grants from the Centre to implement these pro-people policies. Tewari affirmed that the proposed measures could be initiated by the second half of 2026, providing much-needed respite to those struggling with the cost of living in the joint capital.
