Badal government turns stone deaf
Monday, 29/09/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140929/punjab.htm#1
Khanna : Days before the model code of conduct was enforced for the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the foundation stone for 31 projects, such as water supply and sewage treatment plants, worth Rs 1,220 crore.
Months later, not a single project has taken off. The state government is now blaming the Central government for it. It says it has not received adequate grants for the projects.
Though the projects were started under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNURM), the SAD tried to usurp credit for these projects. It even sought votes citing the projects.
“The Centre has not sent grant for the projects. We will honour all promises. We are only awaiting word from the Centre,” said VK Garg, Chief Engineer, Local Bodies. Of the 31 projects, 11 were in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency.
In Rasulra, located on the Khanna-Malerkotla road, untreated waste flows into the village, rendering the village land infertile.
Local resident Harvinder Singh complained that the stench from the waste water had made the lives of villagers miserable.
“Crops grown near the waste water dump are invariably infected by fungus. Industrial waste too is getting mixed with this water.
“We were told that a sewage treatment plant would be installed and the treated water could be used for irrigation. But all that stands is the foundation stone. Not a brick has been laid so far,” he said rather disappointed.
When contacted, executive officer of the Khanna Municipal Corporation said: “We have laid underground pipes to drain out water into a drain to protect the villages.”
