Chandigarh, May 28 -- More than five years after 13 of Chandigarh's villages were merged into the municipal corporation (MC), development still remains a distant dream for many residents as no dedicated funds have been released by the UT administration for their upkeep since 2021.

The 13 villages - Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Makhan Majra, Daria, Mauli Jagran, Kishangarh, Kaimbwala, Khuda Ali Sher, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Lahora, Sarangpur and Dhanas - were brought under the MC's jurisdiction on November 30, 2018. Nine others - Butrela, Badheri, Attawa, Palsora, Maloya, Dadu Majra, Burail, Kajheri and Hallo Majra - were already within the municipal limits.

According to MC officials, while the Chandigarh Administration released Rs.10...