MC polls to be fought on development plank: Sidhu

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 21

The 26-acre multiutility sports complex, revamp of sewerage system, adequate provision for storm water outlet and streamlining traffic would be the Congress agenda keeping in view the upcoming civil polls in the city.

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who inaugurated a railway overbridge constructed under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) today, spelled out the development plan.

Sidhu said Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana were the government priority to transform these into smart cities.

“A sports park will soon come up at 26 acre space adjoining Ranjit Avenue where facilities of tracks for athletes, hockey astro turf, four cricket pitches, badminton court, lawn tennis court, skating rink, volleyball and basketball ground will be available. Talks are on with the BCCI for transforming the Amritsar Cricket Club and there is a possibility that IPL and international level matches can be held here in future,” he said.

Former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had laid the foundation stone of world class stadium in 2011 and Amritsar Improvement Trust had been assigned the task to construct the world-class stadium at 9,500 sq yards. But it had fallen flat as the site allocated for the project has been virtually reduced to a garbage-dumping ground over the period.

“Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will disclose the party’s development agenda on August 16, when he will be in Amritsar to inaugurate Partition Museum,” he said.

Though, Sidhu could not commit on date fixed for municipal corporation elections but told that ‘development’ would be the poll plank of the Congress. He told that new delimitation of wards would be effected before the MC polls.

A plan regarding cleaning the water of Ravi and Beas rivers is also afoot which would rid the people of holy city and the villages of the problem of polluted water apart from ensuring clean drinking water to the people, adequate provision for storm water outlet.

MLAs Sunil Dutti, Raj Kumar Verka, DC Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, MC Commissioner Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu and District Congress Committee (Urban) chief Jugal Kishore were present.