Govt goes slow on 145;optimum land utilisation146;

The consultant firms have been asked to provide precise inputs on existing market rates, future real estate trends and sale options. He said, 8220;We are prioritising the scheme. It8217;s a conscious move not to rush into selling properties or excess land because of the slowdown.8221; The official added that the department will go ahead with its plans in places where optimum utilisation of land can take place without any monetary loss or a good deal is waiting to happen. Selling prime jail land in Punjab to exploit it commercially and dealing with properties of the Irrigation Department, housing societies and official residences are the priority areas that the PIDB is focusing upon, he said. 8220;A Patiala-based irrigation SDO was living in a bungalow spanning nearly 4-5 acres. It was pointless. We are now using the area optimally,8221; he said.

Talking to The Indian Express, Punjab Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh said the recession has had an impact on the government8217;s scheme on optimum land utilisation. The CS said the government was acting in the right direction to take possible corrective steps. Sources said some of the other PIDB projects, including the state-of-the-art air-conditioned bus terminal proposed at Mohali on a public-private partnership basis, too, have been hit by the slowdown.

PIDB Secretary S.S. Sandhu said the government hoped that the scenario begins to improve. He said, 8220;The inputs we have received is that the situation is better now than what it was till last month. The decision to sell off public properties or land by PIDB or PUDA will be based strictly on the desired price offered by the buyer.8221;

Notwithstanding the merits of the scheme, this scheme to sell public property sites lying vacant with various government departments had invited criticism from the opposition Congress. Opposition leaders have termed the scheme as an act of 8220;frustration8221; stemming out of meager revenue generation in the state.