MCB to spend Rs 2.84-cr at growth centre

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 30

To give boost to the industry, the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has made a proposal to construct new metal roads and install street lights worth Rs 2.84 crore in the growth centre industrial area located near the Mansa road in the city.

It has also been decided that the MCB will ask state government to release funds for the project.

To get technical and administrative approval, the MCB is planning to table the proposal in the upcoming general house meeting for discussion.

The government developed this area in 1998 and sold plots in 1999. Various small- scale units have come up here in the last few years but despite this, a huge chunk of land is lying vacant at the industrial growth centre.

Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Raman Watts said the state government was not developing the centre as it didn’t have any interest in promoting small-scale industries in the state.

He said the condition was such that sewerage in the area was lying choked and emitting foul smell in the absence of a proper disposal system.

Even roads are in bad shape. There are three parks in the area but none is being maintained.

Watts said, “Earlier, we met the former Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to demand basic amenities. Now, after the new government has been formed, we have met Manpreet Badal. He has assured us but we can’t say when the work would be done.”

Senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal said the area needed a revamp as it had been neglected for long.

The MCB is now planning to initiate some developmental works in the area as roads, sewerage and sanitation are in a poor shape, he added.

The proposal has led to a discord in the MCB as SAD-BJP councillors have asked that if development works in their wards are stalled, then why such a huge amount be spent in just one area.