Trust rolled out barely 3 housing schemes in 50 yrs
The Phagwara Improvement Trust, established in 1974, has managed to implement only three housing schemes in over 50 years, highlighting the inefficiency and stagnation of this key development body.
Despite the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government appointing Chairpersons for various Improvement Trusts across Punjab, including Phagwara, on September 25, 2023, no members have been nominated to these Trusts, leaving them incomplete and partially functional.
In Phagwara, prominent lawyer Kashmir Singh Malhi was appointed as the Chairman, but even under his leadership, the Improvement Trust has been struggling to function effectively. The Trust continues to bear the burden of employee salaries without making substantial progress. Following the December 21 elections of Municipal Corporation, three members were expected to be nominated from the elected councillors to the Phagwara Improvement Trust, but no appointments have been made.
When contacted, Phagwara Improvement Trust Chairman Kashmir Singh Malhi shared plans to launch a new scheme on 15.68 acres near Urban Estate Phagwara, for which a loan of Rs 7 crore has been sought. “We are making all attempts to ensure that it works out,” he said.
The Phagwara Improvement Trust, formed in December 1974, had its first Chairman, Congress leader and advocate Balwant Singh, who took charge on January 10, 1975. Various political leaders, including SAD’s Jagat Singh Palahai (Chairman from 1978 to 1980), BJP’s Om Gupta, Tejaswi Bhardwaj, Sunil Chum, and Congress leaders like Harjit Singh Parmar, Balbir and Sohan Lal Banga, have all held the position over the years. However, despite their tenure, no new schemes have been developed.
