Govt’s lax attitude delaying Kartarpur corridor: Harsimrat

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11

Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today charged the state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh for the delay in submission of proposal for the Kartarpur Corridor and levelling baseless allegations against the Centre.

Addressing a conference at Ladhowal, she said on one hand the state government was blaming the Centre for delay in providing funds for acquisition of land for the corridor while on the other hand, the minutes of a joint meeting of senior officials from the state and the Union Government on the issue were sent to the Centre with a month’s delay. “This attitude shows the extent of seriousness on the part of the state government,” she said. On delay in providing funds for acquisition of land, Harsimrat said the state government was unnecessarily raising a hue and cry.

The Centre would not release funds to the state government, but money would be paid directly to land owners once the process for the acquisition of land was complete, she maintained.

“On the part of the Union Government, the proposed route (for the corridor) has been finalised and has been declared a national highway. The final design from those submitted by the state has almost been finalised and khasra numbers of the land needed for the project will be sent to the state government within the next 48 hours,” she said.

Harsimrat alleged that the state Congress government was creating hurdles in the way of early execution of the proposed mega food parks in Bathinda and Ludhiana.