Navjot Sidhu puts a spanner in amphibious bus project at Harike
Sunday, 18/06/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=177705&boxid=59417&uid=&dat=2017-06-18
Chandigarh/Harike Pattan : Punjab Local Government, Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday ordered stopping of amphibian bus from operating at Harike Pattan Wildlife Sanctuary. Sidhu visited Harike Pattan to explore possibility of developing it as a tourism centre and to take stock of the amphibious bus project started during tenure of Akali-BJP government.
The water bus was a dream project of former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal which he launched before Punjab Assembly elections 2017. Sidhu’s visit came after Congress MLA from Patti Harminder Singh Gill raised a query during the question hour in the Assembly on Friday regarding developing Harike as a major tourist destination.
Four MLAs from constituencies adjoining the wetland, namely Parminder Singh Pinki of Ferozepur, Harminder Singh Gill of Patti, Sukhpal Singh Bhullar of Khemkaran and Kulbir Singh Zira of Zira accompanied Sidhu.
The decision to introduce amphibious bus in Harike was taken by SAD-BJP government on August 12, 2015. Funds for the said project were received from Punjab Infrastructure Development Board in 2016. An expenditure of Rs 8.62 crore has been incurred on the purchase of bus, construction of ramp, insurance and other miscellaneous charges.
The bus has been operated for just 10 days, generating a revenue of only Rs 64,000 for the government, Sidhu stated before the House on Friday.
