Arhtiyas to be put under ambit of law, audit, says Sidhu

Friday, 06/10/2017

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CHANDIGARH: Referring to arhtiyas (commission agents) in the state as his ‘brethren’, Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said a cabinet sub-committee has recommended to bring them under the ambit of law and audit.

Sidhu said the sub-committee, of which he is a part, has referred the matter to Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh for a final decision.

He said loan payback to the arhtiyas by the farmers should not be more than double.

Sidhu was talking to mediapersons at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme at the Chandigarh Press Club.

‘BADALS RUINED PUNJAB’ Accusing Badals of ruining the state, he also blamed them for blocked sewers, non-functional sewage treatment plants and poor finances.

He called upon the people of Punjab to give the Amarinder Singh government one year to show results. “It’s too early to judge us. Give us at least one year. We have inherited a badly run state. The central schemes were poorly managed. There was no building map, and the previous government had no advertisement policy,” he said.

“We want to leave a legacy of the Capt Amarinder Singh government,” he added.

He saidm “Haryana earns Rs 300 crore from outdoor advertisements in 82 cities, and Punjab Rs 20 crore only from 187 cities.” Giving another example of poor management of the previous Akali-BJP government, Sidhu said the Haryana Roadways had a profit of Rs 1,700 crore while the Punjab Roadways was incurring losses of Rs 600 crore.

Similarly, he said, there was no tax on cable television even as direct to home (DTH) services were taxed. “Ask Sukhbir to answer for the damage caused (to the state)”.

PATS HIS BACK Talking about the performance of his department, Sidhu said he had made operational 13 of the 64 sewage treatment plants, which were left redundant during the previous government.

The minister said he had set up a separate directorate for fire control and bought new fire fighting machines.

Sidhu, who also holds the charge of tourism department, said the government has decided to give its serais on rent for weddings and other functions. “Some palaces were identified which would be converted into hotels,” he said.

ON PADDY STUBBLE BURNING To a question on the menace of paddy stubble burning in the state, he said the government will resolve the problem in due time. “The CM has a solution (for this problem)”, he added.

DEBT WAIVER Responding to media queries on the proposed debt waiver for farmers in the state, he said, “Debt waiver is not the end goal of the government. But the government will not let farmers remain under the debt.”

GURDASPUR BYPOLL Referring to former Akali leader Sucha Singh Langah who has been arrested in connection with a rape case, Sidhu said, “It can’t be believed. He was in the race to become the SGPC president. The hatred for Langah will surely lead to (Congress candidate) Sunil Jakhar’s victory (in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll.”