No funds, sarpanches in Ropar dist begin relay fast

Ropar, December 27

Feeling ignored, sarpanches of villages in the Ropar Assembly segment have started a relay fast demanding grants to carry out development works.

The aggrieved sarpanches of various villages, including Miani, Katli, Santokgarh Tapparian, Barri, Bahadarpur, Balawalpur and Hussainpur, said they hadn’t received even a single penny for development works despite running from pillar to post, as a result of which they had been forced to start the relay fast strike outside the mini secretariat here.

On December 23, the sarpanches had at a press conference announced boycott of all political parties, alleging leaders, including those of the Opposition, had failed to safeguard their interests.

Katli sarpanch Kamal Saini claimed crores of rupees had been granted for works in neighbouring Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib constituencies, being represented by Speaker Rana KP Singh and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, respectively. However, the 282 panchayats of the Ropar constituency had been ignored as its MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa belonged to the Opposition AAP, he alleged.

In August 2019, the Katli panchayat had passed a resolution demanding funds for the sewerage system. “Nothing has been done so far,” said Saini. — TNS