Chandigarh, Oct. 12 -- The UT administration has turned down the municipal corporation's (MC) proposal to upgrade the city's ageing sewer system at a cost of Rs.600 crore, compelling it to take up the project in a phased manner over the next five years.

MC commissioner Amit Kumar confirmed that the UT has declined any special funding for the project but added that the civic body has been assured of an increased grant-in-aid every fiscal. "Those additional grants can then be utilised for strengthening the sewer system, but in a phased manner," said Kumar. He added that once the MC's financial situation improves, the civic body plans to spend around Rs.100 crore annually on the project.

The MC has not yet formally written to the UT admini...