Gurdwara body opposes road widening project

Ludhiana, September 27

A proposal for acquisition of land by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for widening the approach road from Sidhwan Canal to Sun View Enclave as per a notified master plan has hit a roadblock with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) throwing a spanner in the works.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal has taken up the matter with the Chief Minister. In a letter to Capt Amarinder Singh, the SGPC chief said the proposed acquisition of 18,728 sq yd of SGPC land was tantamount to encroachment upon the gurdwara land, which was a part of Gurdwara Tharra Sahib in Ayali Kalan. He also alleged the GLADA officials were conniving with a private developer to take over the SGPC land at cheaper rates and planned to sell it at a premium later.

GLADA Additional Chief Administrator Bhupinder Singh, however, said the process for acquisition of land for widening the road to 100 feet was on. He said taking a decision in this regard was the prerogative of the government. — OC