Don’t support clubs inside Ram Bagh in Amritsar: NGO to MLAs

Amritsar, July 26

Members of a local NGO has written to Cabinet Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar and Amritsar East MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur to protect the interests of the public in case of encroachments in Ram Bagh (Company Bagh).

Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, patron of the Amritsar Vikas Manch, said members of the three clubs, who had encroached upon a major part of the Company Bagh, have sought the support of MLAs and the Cabinet Minister to remain in the Company Bagh despite the fact that their lease had expired at least 25 years ago and they are not paying any lease money to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation.

“We have urged the MLAs to not lend any support to the three clubs, who have encroached upon a major part of the historic Ram Bagh. The matter is sub judice as the AVM has filed a writ petition to relocate the three clubs from the Company Bagh to a suitable place outside the Bagh. Despite the fact that an agreement signed by the ASI (on behalf of the President of India) and the Commissioner, Amritsar Municipal Corporation (on behalf of the Governor of Punjab) on December 4, 2018. The agreement has been submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said Ankhi.

“Three and a half years have lapsed, but not a single para of the agreement has been implemented. Under political pressure, some parts of the garden are allocated to an influential party to grow cauliflower. Some influential party has thrown brick-kiln dust for playing volleyball and badminton. We have also demanded the cancellation of the tenders amounting to Rs 1.5 crore for establishing a sports park and a women park, which must be established outside the Ram Bagh at an appropriate site. One of the four historic watch towers is in the possession of a club inside the garden, which needs to be vacated by authorities,” stated Manmohan Singh Brar, president of the AVM.

MLA Jeevanjot Kaur assured the AVM office-bearers that everything would be discussed with them in detail before taking any action in this regard.