Govt move to mortgage prime land comes under Cong fire

The secretary and spokesman of the All India Congress Committee Manish Tewari...

The secretary and spokesman of the All India Congress Committee AICC Manish Tewari today flayed the state government for mortgaging the prime properties of the city for procuring funds for development of the city and its suburbs.

Reacting to the reports of the government mortgaging various properties and land to generate funds, Tewari pointed out the state government had failed to generate enough funds for development. He said the SAD-BJP government was pushing the state towards the bankruptcy, which was evident the way it the government was selling or mortgaging the properties.

The AICC secretary pointed out that this land was the property of the general public and the future generations. 8220;We need this much of space for our future generations8221;, he remarked, while adding, 8220;For the future development programmes this government seems to be hardly bothered about leaving any space.8221;

The senior Congress leader said the SAD-BJP government could not unilaterally go ahead with such major decisions where in it has been putting at stake the future of the state. He said the government should focus on comprehensive policy measures that would generate revenue without compromising the state8217;s interests.

8220;In case, the SAD-BJP government is allowed to run the way it is selling off everything, we will not be having any space for parks, tube-wells and other public utilities8221;, he pointed out, while urging the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not to suffocate the cities for populist measures.

Tewari also criticised the government for failing to provide the tubewell connections under Own Your Tube-well OYT scheme to farmers. He said the government through the Punjab State Electricity Board had made the farmers to deposit Rs 25,000 each for this scheme.

But months have passed and no connection has been provided. He said about one lakh farmers from across the state had deposited the amount but the board was not providing the connections. Some farmers had taken loan for getting their own tube-wells in the hope that they might be able to reap a good harvest and pay back the debts. Tewari expressed surprise as to how the government could treat farmers like this and still claim to be their well wisher.