Residents accuse BDA of altering road’s map without consent

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 7

Residents of the Civil Lines area on Saturday accused the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) of modifying the map of a 100-feet road to be developed here. They demanded a CBI or a Vigilance probe into the matter as they suspect there could be “embezzlement of funds”.

Gurpreet Singh Bhasin, legal advisor to the Civil Lines Residents’ Welfare Society, said, “The original site map presented by the BDA showed that the existing road leading to the Nirvana Colony or Civil Lines Extension was to be widened and developed as a 100-feet road. Now, we have been told that the BDA has made some changes in the original plan. The existing road will be developed as a slip road and the new road will be 66-feet wide.”

The residents alleged that the change in the plan was a breach of trust and promise. It was done without consulting them and the plot holders in Nirvana Colony (old jail site), they said.

Members of the society convened an emergency meeting on Thursday evening and demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.

“The BDA sold plots in the upcoming residential complex by showing a100-feet road in the map, connecting the complex with the main Bathinda-Mansa road. If the road was to be only 60-70-feet wide, why did the BDA acquire land from the Police Lines and spend money on acquisition?,” Bhasin said.

The residents said they had been promised that a storm water drainage pipe would also be laid in the area. “We have come to know that the BDA has dropped the plan of laying the storm water pipe as well. No notice has sent to the residents or the plot holders, who have been affected by the arbitrary action of the BDA,” the society members added.

Anil Bhardwaj, SDO of the BDA, confirmed the “modification” and stated that it had been done to save extra expenditure on the existing road. “Repositioning of electricity, telecom and other poles from the existing road to the new road will cost the BDA Rs 50-60 lakh,” he said.

Bhardwaj said it was decided that the existing road would be used as a service lane. “A new road will be constructed on the acquired land,” he added.

Rishi Pal Singh, BDA Chief Administrator, refused to comment on the changes and maintained that either way the total width of the road would remain 100 feet and the claims being made by the residents were unsubstantiated.