AMRITSAR: Our Government has relinquished possession of about 1200 acres of Panchayati Raj land within 10 days and in the next few days illegal occupation of the remaining Panchayati Raj will also be relinquished.
These words were uttered by Mr. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats while talking to Press Correspondents here today.
Mr. Dhaliwal said that it had come to his notice that the land of government roads and ditches of Gram Panchayat Bhagatpura situated within the limits of residential colony Alpha City has been sold at cheap rates.
He said that this case has been investigated by me and 41 Kanal 10 Marla road has been sold at the rate of 43 lakh per acre only after the Gram Panchayat Bhagatpura passed the resolution and got approval from the government.
He said that all the action in this regard was taken by the old government.
Mr. Dhaliwal also clarified that the amount of land sold has been FDed in the name of Panchayat and Gram Panchayat can use this amount only with interest and not by spending FD money. Mr. Dhaliwal said that earlier the government had fixed the rate of this land at Rs.29 lakhs but the Gram Panchayat had refused to take it which was a very good initiative. He said that after this the rate was again fixed by the government at Rs.53 lakhs but after considering the existing collector rate and the rate by the then Deputy Commissioner and with the consent of the Gram Panchayat its rate was fixed at Rs.43 lakhs per acre.
Replying to a question from the press, Mr. Dhaliwal said that 100 acres of Panchayat land at Tarn Taran has been released today. He said that no one would be allowed to occupy Panchayat lands.
Replying to a query, he said that the big fish selling drugs would soon be thrown behind bars and the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann had given clear instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners and Police officers in this regard.
In reply to another question, Mr. Dhaliwal said that water from Sutlej, Beas and Ravi would be used for agriculture and drinking. "Opposition parties are fed up with our work and are making frivolous statements, " he said. He said that all the promises made by our government to the people would be fulfilled. Mr. Harpreet Singh Sudan, Deputy Commissioner and Mr. Gurpreet Singh Gill, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Mr. Praveen Puri, Director Public Relations, Guru Nanak Dev University, Mr. Satpal Singh Sokhi, Mr. Gurinder Singh Johal, Mr. Prabhvir Singh Brar, Dr. Maha Lovoya Goa and other dignitaries were also present.