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A Meeting of the Home Minister’s Advisory Committee for the Union Territory of Chandigarh was held here today. The meeting convened after about 20 years was presided over by the Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil. The Advisory Committee provides a forum to Union Territories without legislatures for interaction between the Central Government and the elected representatives of the Union Territories on major issues of policy concerning the Territories. The meeting discussed various issues including the issue of acquisition of land in Manimajra, compensation for acquired lands, rehabilitation for slum-dwellers and devolution of functions and powers to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh and Panchayati Raj Institutions in the Union Territory.
Addressing the meeting, the Home Minister stressed the need for Chandigarh to retain its unique character and said that development of Chandigarh should take place in harmony with the vision of the builders of the city. He also stressed the need to have short, medium and long term plans for the development of the Union Territory. The Home Minister expressed concern over the adverse sex ratio in Chandigrh and said that efforts should be made to correct the imbalance and prevent incidence of female foeticide. Shri Patil desired that devolution of powers to the Municipal Corporation and Panchayati Raj Institutions in Chandigarh be done as per the provisions of the Constitution. The financial resources should be transferred to these local bodies as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. Shri Patil said that efforts should be made to prepare a comprehensive package for rehabilitation of slum-dwellers including provision for schools, hospitals, community centers, etc.
Those who attended the meeting included the Minister of State for Home, Shri R. Regupathy, Administrator of Chandigarh & Governor of Punjab Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, Ms Anu Chathrath and the Home Secretary, Shri V.K. Duggal.
OK/PKM
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