Funds for development is Congress poll plank

PATIALA: While Congress candidates in Patiala are banking on recent announcements made by Capt Amarinder Singh, who announced development projects worth Rs 1,000 crore, including a canal-based drinking water supply scheme at Rs 782 crore for Patiala, SAD-BJP leaders are claiming that funds were never an issue during the previous regime.

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 7

While Congress candidates in Patiala are banking on recent announcements made by Capt Amarinder Singh, who announced development projects worth Rs 1,000 crore, including a canal-based drinking water supply scheme at Rs 782 crore for Patiala, SAD-BJP leaders are claiming that funds were never an issue during the previous regime.

The Congress leaders, smelling a victory, have already announced that being the Chief Minister’s home town, Patiala would get a lion’s share and the announcements by the CM will “pave a way for the holistic progress of Patiala", which they say was completely sidelined by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government.

“The CM has announced a surface drinking water supply scheme in Patiala besides the allocation of Rs 38 crore for the completion of a project for conversion of the Banur canal from non-perennial to perennial and Rs 1,250 crore for the construction of 250 houses for the homeless, at Rs 5 lakh per house, under the Shehri Awaas Yojana," said Sanjiv Bittu, leader of the Opposition in the last MC House. “The last government could not repair roads, leave aside constructing new ones," he claimed while addressing a gathering in his ward.

Residents too believe that in the past 10 years, the Municipal Corporation failed to improve basic amenities in the city, which is grappling with poor roads, heaps of garbage, water shortage and the stray cattle menace.

“For the past 15 years, ever since Patiala turned a corporation, there is no improvement in civic amenities. We still face water shortage, roads are in poor condition and there is rampant corruption in the MC,' said Naresh Handa, a local trader.

“The parks in the city are in poor shape. Councillors are busy minting money through illegal buildings raised in the city," he added.

Last month, the CM had announced Rs 24 crore for the strengthening of the water supply and Rs 35 crore for augmenting the sewerage system in the city under the AMRUT scheme while Rs 100 crore will be spent on new works to be undertaken by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. SAD-BJP leaders say these announcements are merely an eyewash.

“The bulk of the new projects relate to repair and construction of roads and parks, underground bins, LED lighting, public toilets, new tubewells, parking spaces and dharamshalas were announced with keeping the MC elections in mind. During 2002-07 when the Congress was in power in the state, the city gained nothing. We will highlight it," said Amrinder Singh Bazaz, outgoing city Mayor.

Following political compulsions, SAD leaders opposed the solid waste management project in the city which would have recycled solid waste of 26 municipalities from Barnala, Sangrur and Patiala districts, apart from the 240-MT waste generated in Patiala every day.

SAD leader Sukhminderpal Minta alleged that the Congress was misusing official machinery and would resort to violence as they knew that their government had failed on every front and people were angry. “Voters will teach them a lesson," he added.