A-C market to get new lease of life

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 16

The A-C market located near the Fire Brigade Station is all set to get a new lease of life as the air-conditioning plant of the market may become functional again by April. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who held a meeting with shopkeepers today, promised it.

Addressing the concerns expressed by the shopkeepers of the market pertaining to the non-functional A-C plant, the minister discussed the issue with Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra and asked him to get the department concerned prepare an estimate for the renovation and maintenance of the plant and make it functional before the onset of summers.

The shopkeepers also demanded that the shops, which have been leased to them for 99 years, be registered in their names since they have been earning their livelihood from these shops for the past several decades.

The minister discussed the matter with the tehsildar and also directed him to chalk out a plan to heed the demand of the shopkeepers.

The minister also convened meetings with party leaders, workers and listened to the grievances of the public.

During one such meeting held in party leader Chamkaur Mann’s ward, the minister announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for Government Elementary School, Mohalla Jhutika, and also assured the residents that Surkhpeer Road would be repaired soon.

He also listened to the problems being faced by vendors while e-stamping.

Taking a dig at SAD chief Sukhbit Singh Badal, the minister said the SAD-BJP alliance was yet to come out of the defeat that it suffered in the Assembly elections.

He added that SAD leaders were habitual of making baseless allegations against Congress leaders.

He also called upon Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to work selflessly for her constituency and the state rather than wasting time on finding faults with the functioning of the Congress government in the state.

Minister listens to grievances of people

• Shopkeepers also demanded that the shops, which have been leased to them for 99 years, be registered in their names since they have been earning their livelihood from these shops for the past several decades. 
• The Finance Minister discussed the matter with the tehsildar and also directed him to chalk out a plan to heed the demand of the shopkeepers.
• The minister also convened meetings with party leaders, workers and listened to the grievances of the public