Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann lays stone of medical institute on 'disputed' land

Tribune News Service

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, August 5

When Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today laid the foundation stone of the Sant Attar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences at Mastuana Sahib, it rekindled hope for a medical institute for the third time.

Mired in controversy

Sant Attar Singh Gursagar Mastuana Trust secretary Jaswant Singh Khaira has said the Trust is the custodian of the land. “Some of our employees have formed a separate committee, which does not have a legal sanctity. It illegally transferred the land ownership to the government last month for the institute,” he claimed.

No dispute: DC

Sangrur DC Jitendra Jorwal said, “The ownership of 25 acres of land earmarked for the medical institute is clear. As per the revenue records, there is no stay in the matter and the land was transferred to the government as per norms.”

During the Congress rule, the authorities had first proposed the medical institute on the land of Gharachon village. For some reason, the foundation stone was laid on the land of Ghabdan village. Finally, the project was shifted to Mastuana Sahib a few days ago.

The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare facilities to people and said the institute was a step in that direction.

“The project will be a befitting tribute to great religious leader Sant Attar Singh, who propagated the message of universal love, peace and communal harmony,” noted Mann.

The present location is mired in controversy. Sant Attar Singh Gursagar Mastuana Trust secretary Jaswant Singh Khaira has written to the Sangrur DC Jitendra Jorwal, requesting the government to consider another site on the Sangrur-Barnala Road for the institute.

“The Trust is the custodian of the land. Some of our employees have formed a separate committee, which does not have a legal sanctity. It illegally transferred the land ownership to the government last month for the institute. The land is disputed and we request the state government to take another tract of land from the Trust, which will happily part with it to avoid controversy,” said Khaira, who has the documents to back his claim.

In Dhuri, the CM announced projects for his Dhuri segment. “The government will construct a railway overbridge at a cost of Rs 15 crore,” he said, besides announcing a grant of Rs 2 crore for a state-of-the-art park.

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