DC empowered to take call on bullock cart races: Sidhu

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19

Enthusiasts seeking to revive bullock cart races in the Kila Raipur games need to convince the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana that the Environment Ministry’s guidelines are adhered to, said Minister for Tourism and Culture Navjot Singh Sidhu, in reply to a query during the Question Hour today.

Making a mention of the revival of bullock cart races in context of a specific guideline by the Ministry of Environment recently, MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid said: “The participants of Kila Raipur games take special care of their animals. The allegation of cruelty is baseless. The states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have already allowed such races.”

Sidhu said the Kila Raipur games were part of the glorious tradition of the state. “The Supreme Court had imposed a ban on certain races. Now, the DC concerned has the powers under which the organisers need to satisfy the administration to get permission.”

In reply to a question by MLA Jagdev Singh on the action plan against private hospitals fleecing poor patients, Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said the government would set up a regulatory committee to keep a check on medical charges in the private sector.

In reply to a question by MLA Baldev Singh on poor drainage of ponds, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said: “An earlier NABARD scheme concentrated mainly on the cleaning of ponds. The issue of drainage was left unaddressed. We are waiting for an approval from the Centre to our Rs 6,000-crore scheme which will address the issue.”

In reply to a poser by MLA Randeep Singh Nabha, Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh said the government was working on keeping up its promise of providing electricity at Rs 5 per unit to both commercial and domestic users.