Brahm Mohindra flags constituency’s concerns

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, October 8

Health Minister Brahm Mohindra has written to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, highlighting three main issues concerning the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat.

The development follows the CM’s direction to the minister to identify problems in the border area.

The minister claimed the rapid closure of industrial units in Batala, waterlogged villages of Dinanagar and Pathankot’s railway crossings needed immediate intervention of both the Centre and the state government.

“During campaigning, I visited Batala, Dinanagar and Pathankot. Residents told me that the Gurdaspur constituency would remain backward if the three issues remain unaddressed,” he said.

Pathankot, the minister said, once had a booming economy due to its timber, transport and tourism business. “The economy has been hit because railway crossings restrict the movement of residents and goods. The CM has written to the Railway Ministry, seeking a solution.”

“More than 1.5 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with the industry. If business units start closing shop, which they are actually doing, how will they survive?” he asked. He said the Centre should form a team of agriculture and irrigation experts to resolve the waterlogging problem in Dinanagar.