Tribune News ServicePatiala, August 25
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said he had asked the Urban Housing Ministry not to demolish any illegal colony in the state, keeping in mind the interest of the people who had invested their life’s savings in building houses in them.
Talking to newspersons here after taking part in a tele-education programme organised by Punjab Technical University at its Vaishno Ma Centre here, the Chief Minister said he had directed that PUDA should not launch any demolition drive in these colonies.
The Chief Minister said the people who had invested their life’s savings in building houses in these colonies should not be penalised. However, he said other action could be taken after conducting a survey of such colonies.
Referring to the SYL canal issue, Capt Amarinder Singh tried to convey that the state government’s position had not been weakened after the rejection of its revision petition by the Supreme Court. “This decision will not weaken the state’s case in any way”, he said, adding the termination of the earlier water agreements by the state had changed the entire case. “This matter is before a Supreme Court Bench and we are committed to obeying its decision”, he added.
Speaking about the recent statements of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal asking for the revocation of earlier water agreements with Rajasthan and Haryana, he said these were law and could not be revoked.
When asked about the participation of former Minister Tej Prakash Singh in the state-level function being held to mark the martyrdom day of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, he said he had been given to understand that the family would be participating in the function. He said a function would be held at the “samadhi” of the late leader, which had been completed by his government. A state-level function would be held afterwards.
