Status quo as proposals on hold

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 25

All items related to development works and giving land to the Forest Department in lieu of the land taken for constructing water tanks listed in the agenda of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) were on Monday kept pending, except the one regarding open defecation.

The last F&CC meeting was called on June 13 to release the work order of tenders worth Rs 5 crore, but then too most of the proposals were kept pending, owing to confusion over the development works to be carried out by the Bathinda Improvement Trust. 

It was done to avoid doubling or overlapping of work. 

Senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal said the open defecation-free proposal was passed, but the issue of giving approval to land to be given to the Forest Department was important. 

“We have taken their land for making water tanks in the city. It is a serious issue and approval should have been given by the general house,” he added.

The Forest Department gave approval for giving the land for constructing water tanks on June 8, 2018. 

The department wrote a letter to the MCB project office, asking them to deposit Rs 21 lakh and also give land in lieu of land. 

The MCB had stated that they had vacated land near the MC colony, which is adjoining the forest office.

Goyal alleged that the Congress had adopted pick and choose policy for carrying out works through BIT and if the Mayor and MCB officials also adopt a similar attitude, there would be a serious problem.

Tarsem Goyal said a meeting should be held with the councillors and then agenda for the development works in the wards should be prepared. He also claimed that all wards should be given equal representation.

Deputy mayor Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat said the MCB should not see only a few wards and instead all-round development should be carried out in the city. 

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said the next meeting would be called only after the tender of development works of the Bathinda Improvement Trust is released, so as to avoid confusion.