Chandigarh, June 4 -- Rising above party lines, councillors from all political parties, during the monthly House meeting held on Tuesday, opposed the municipal corporation's (MC) move to lay off staff and demanded that 664 tubewell operators should not be rendered jobless. Last month, in a major cost-cutting move triggered by a deepening fiscal crisis, the municipal corporation had decided not to renew the contracts of 332 outsourced multi-task workers employed at tubewells across the city. This decision followed an internal assessment conducted by the engineering department. However, in the House meeting held on Tuesday, the MC decided to revise the move and terminate 100% of its existing tubewell staff. The MC operates 130 tubewells and 34 boosters across Chandigarh. Until now, these 664 workers had been managing these facilities on a contractual basis. Heated arguments broke out between BJP councillor Kanwarjit Singh Rana and MC commissioner Amit Kumar over the issue. Kumar submitted a dissent note, stating, "We have granted them an extension till June 30, but a fresh tender will be floated thereafter." Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla responded, saying, "We will take up the issue with the UT administrator and stand with the House on this matter." On Tuesday, the tubewell operators staged a protest outside the MC office, demanding the continuation of their services. Rana said the livelihoods of over 600 families were at stake and urged the House to support the reinstatement of the terminated employees. He maintained that his sole intent was to advocate for the rights of corporation workers. He also warned that if the employees were not reinstated, he would stage a protest. Congress councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty echoed similar sentiments, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the operators. He questioned, "When the entire House supports their reinstatement, why is the mayor not approving it?" Following this, mayor Babla also voiced her support, firmly stating that not even a single employee of the corporation should be removed from their posts. However, MC commissioner Amit Kumar maintained a different stance. While acknowledging the sentiments and collective will of the House, he emphasised, that given the current financial condition of the municipal corporation, he was compelled to register a formal dissent. He reiterated that no one is above the law and the final decision rests with the administration. The issue remains under consideration, with the commissioner's dissent setting the stage for further deliberations....