New Vidhan Sabha building for Haryana in Chandigarh raises tempers: will not allow it, say AAP, SGPC

Previously, the Chandigarh administration decided to allocate 10 acres of prime land on IT Park Road near the railway station for Haryana’s Assembly complex. In return, Haryana offered 12 acres in Panchkula, adjacent to the 123-acre Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park developed by the Chandigarh Housing Board.

As paperwork was underway for transferring this prime Chandigarh-administered land to Haryana, the Union Territory requested alternative land or monetary compensation instead of Haryana’s offer, as the 12-acre plot in Panchkula reportedly lies within an eco-sensitive zone. This zone designation became known after a land demarcation in Saketri village in July 2023.

Gupta told The Indian Express, “The Chandigarh administration had noted that there was no environmental clearance for the land offered by Haryana in exchange for the Assembly complex land. Now, the Centre has provided clearance, with a notification issued on November 11. This meets the Chandigarh administration’s requirements for the land swap.”

After engaging with central government leaders over the past six months, Gupta stated, “The path to building a new Assembly complex is now clear. Once Haryana secures the land from the Chandigarh administration, construction can commence.”

Gupta expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Environment and Climate Bhupender Yadav, and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for their roles in obtaining the environment clearance.

Currently, Punjab and Haryana share the Vidhan Sabha complex adjacent to the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. Haryana has consistently cited space constraints, which it claims impede the Vidhan Sabha and its committees’ functioning. The Chandigarh administration is reviewing Haryana’s detailed proposal for the land swap to establish a separate Vidhan Sabha building in the city, which Haryana shares with Punjab. However, the proposal has sparked opposition from Punjab-based political parties, who maintain that Chandigarh belongs solely to Punjab.

SGPC slams move

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has condemned the central government’s decision to allocate separate land in Chandigarh for a Haryana Assembly building, calling it a direct attack on Punjab’s rights. Dhami said this move is a blatant disregard for Punjab and its people, as Chandigarh was established on land belonging to Punjab villages, and therefore the city’s ownership rests solely with Punjab.