Improvement Trust to hold sway

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 21

The development works in the city have been stalled since the formation of the Congress government in the state as bitter opposition has ensued between the SAD-BJP and Congress in the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda.

Irked over which the Finance Ministry has decided to release the funds for the development works through the district administration.

Instead of the MCB, the funds will be diverted to the account of the Bathinda Improvement Trust.

After getting the funds, BIT will initiate the development works and from now all proposals made by the MCB regarding the development works will be completed by BIT.

The decision has created a storm in the MCB as SAD-BJP councillors are opposing it. On the other hand, the Congress camp is hailing the decision and claiming it as their victory.

The decision has been taken as earlier a few proposals, which were tabled by Congress leaders for development works, were blocked and rejected by SAD-BJP councillors, who are in a majority in the MCB.

Later, a proposal of Rs 14 crore was prepared in which around 150 works, mostly forwarded by Congress councillors were included.

However, SAD councillors held a meeting with former MLA Sarup Chand Singla and when it was tabled in the F&CC meeting, works to the tune of Rs 9 crore were removed from the list.

When the issue was taken up by local Congress leaders with Manpreet Badal, a decision was taken to divert the funds.

SAD-BJP leaders are targeting the Congress-led state government for not allotting funds for development works to the MCB.

Even Finance minister Manpreet Badal had announced Rs 20 crore for various projects in the city and proposals were prepared. However, funds were not released. Now, funds would be released through the Deputy Commissioner.

Residents claim that it doesn’t matter if the funds are dicerted to the BIT from the MCB, they want basic amenities at the earliest.

SAD-BJP oppose decision

• The decision has created a storm in the MCB as the SAD-BJP councillors are opposing it. On the other hand, the Congress camp is hailing the decision and claiming it as their victory. 
• The decision has been taken as earlier a few proposals, which were tabled by the Congress leaders for development works, were blocked and rejected by the SAD-BJP councillors, who are in a majority in the MCB.