Amritsar: 'Free Ram Bagh of illegal occupation'

Amritsar, July 22

Even three months after the formation of the government and announcement to remove illegal encroachments from the government land, illegal occupation at historic Ram Bagh has still not been removed.

Local activities raised question over government’s priorities. The office-bearers of the Amritsar Vikas Manch have asked the Chief Minister, Local Government Minister and the Mayor of Amritsar to take action against the encroachments in the historic Ram Bagh as part of the campaign to free government properties of illegal occupation.

The first campaign of the Punjab Government to get rid of illegal possession on government properties was initiated by Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar district with pomp and show. But the local government department didn’t take any notice of the campaign.

AVM president Hardeep Singh Chahal said, “The lease of the elite clubs in the historic Ram Bagh, the summer capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, expired 25 years ago and the Municipal Corporation is not taking possession back from them, even though the Punjab and the Haryana High Court ordered their removal on December 4, 2018. The court has also banned the use of alcohol and other commercial activities inside the garden.”

“Several written requests were given to the Congress governments in this regard, but to no avail. On May 7, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Minister of Local Government Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Vivek Pratap Singh Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu, Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner were sent an e-mail. Even after two-and-a-half months, no reply came from anyone. Why no action is being taken against these clubs,” said Charanjit Singh Gumtala, office-bearers of the AVM.

“We appeal to the general public to ask the CM, minister and the Mayor that the campaign to remove illegal occupation was only for the common people? Are influential persons and politicians above the law? Do you have no responsibility to implement the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court?” asked Chahal.