Simarjit to take up river water issue

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 27

Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Singh Bains said his foremost priority would be to take up the issue of the recovery of the cost of river water, from the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. “This issue was not even discussed in the first Cabinet meeting post Assembly elections.”

The LIP MLA said he would, in his capacity as an MLA from the party in Opposition, keep a watch on the policies and programmes of the government. “The Congress talks of new policies, but from where will the finances come. The sand-gravel mafia has destroyed the economy of the state. Those running the mafia should be exposed and brought to book,” he said.

Bains said he would adopt democratic methods to put across his point. He said. “Captain has sought three-month time to end the scourge of chitta. What is the logic if petty drug addicts are put behind the 

bars, while the kingpins roam free?”

Bains said as many as 142 issues were discussed at thefirst Cabinet meeting. “But industry did not figure in it at all.  According to official figures, around 18,770 industrial units have closed down in Punjab. The unofficial figures are close to 30,000. In Mandi Gobindgarh, 80 per cent of the steel furnace units have closed down,” he said.

On the local agenda, the MLA said he would keep doing his duty. “Civic amenities such as roads and sewerage are important.  I am thankful to the people for their support. During the Assembly elections, I only campaigned for two days in Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South. But the people of my constituency re-elected me. They know that I would never fail them,” he said. “I will remain a watchman of the state in the Temple of Democracy (i.e. state Assembly).”