CN Heard

Red faced babus

Chandigarh Housing Board seems to be landing in one trouble after the other. Even as the ‘cash starved’ board is grappling with generation of funds,the rap from two Union Ministers about straying of the board from its primary aim left a few red faces in the administration. In the presence of senior officials,the ministers asked the Board to be pro-poor rather than cater to the rich. The design of the rehabilitation houses has also invited criticism.

,b>Criticism is pain

The illegal release of acquired land has earned the Haryana government more criticism than appreciation from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Each time an acquisition made by the State is set aside,the law officers of Haryana can be seen more worried about the strictures passed than the setting aside of acquisitions. In a recent incident,a law officer appeared to be relaxed after an acquisition was set aside hoping that no strictures have been passed. But he was stunned to read the judgment which was nothing but full of left handed compliments for the state and its consistent mischief in releasing the acquired land.

All in the family

When it comes to the Parkash Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal,its a family affair. Given that members of the Punjab’s first family hold control over the party and the government too,the party and government advertisements and hoardings look more like family portraits. The recently-erected massive hoardings ahead of the Youth Akali Dal’s rally in Mohali had big pictures of the Badal father-son duo with Sukhbir’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia,who is YAD patron. Earlier,the Nanhi Chhan drive hoardings displayed pictures of the Badal father-son duo among Sukhbir’s Parliamentarian wife Harsimran Badal.

Toothless bosses

A shared border with state capital Chandigarh makes Mohali a prime posting for bureaucrats,but it comes with its own problems. When it comes to wielding control over their subordinates,they seem toothless. “We are helpless to rein them as they enjoy close contacts with the high and mighty,who enabled their postings here,” said a senior police officer on reasons for having “no control” on SHOs and other lower rung field officers.