Capt gives `25 lakh to Durgiana Mandir
Thursday, 03/12/2015
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AMRITSAR: Local MP and newly-appointed Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday handed over a cheque for `25 lakh to the Durgiana Mandir Management Committee for the development of the shrine and its surrounding areas.
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh with state election campaign committee in-charge Ambika Soni during their visit to Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar on Wednesday.
The cheque was handed over to Harish Taneja, secretary of the committee, by the former CM after paying obeisance at the shrine. The amount will be paid out of the Member Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund of the Amritsar Lok Sabha member.
The committee on its part honoured the former chief minister by presenting him a shawl and a photograph of the shrine.
Speaking on the occasion, Taneja lamented that the Durgian Mandir beautification plan initiated by the state government was going on at a very slow pace due to non-release of funds by the government in time. The plan involves beautifying the surroundings of the shrine and construction of a multi-storey parking.
“Private properties for this purpose were acquired a long time back. But the beautification plan has moved at a very slow pace due to lack of funds. The matter was taken up with the government, but of no avail,” Taneja added. He appealed to Amarinder to take up this issue with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Amarinder said he would not mind it but then Badal was not going to listen to him. He, however, assured that if voted to power in 2017, he would ensure that this project was completed.
As many as 37 Punjab Congress MLAs were here to greet their new president and state campaign committee chairperson Ambika Soni. Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur remained alongside her husband.
