Punjab Cabinet to decide on PSEB future

Sultanpur Lodhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The state Cabinet would decide on the unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in its meeting soon. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal disclosed here today.

The Chief Minister was here to participate in the state level celebrations of 'Gurpurav' of Guru Nanak Dev who had spent 14 years of his early life here.

Replying to a question regarding the recent sops given to the SGPC members by providing them two gunmen and allowing the use of red beacon on their vehicles, Mr Badal told mediapersons that these sops were given to them as a honour to their status which is equivalent to an elected MLA. He said he perceived no threat to their lives and it was optional for them to keep two gunmen for their security.

When his attention was drawn towards the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions regarding the use of red beacon, he said the government had issued the necessary notification in this regard, so there was no question of violation of directions of the court. He added that government would also allow the religious heads of other communities to use red beacon on their vehicles.

Mr Badal refused to comment on the decision of the SGPC to put up the photograph of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale at the Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple. The decision pertains to the SGPC and he had nothing to say, he quipped.

He disclosed that government had constituted a Sultanpur Lodhi development board for its over all development and concerned authorities had been asked to prepare the master plan for the towns systematic development.

Mr Badal pulled up Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner J M Balamurugan for his failure to take any action against a coloniser for constructing a commercial building on government land in Kapurthala.

The DC tried to pacify the Chief Minister by saying that the dispute over the ownership of land was pending in the Punjab and Haryana High court.

Later Badal inaugurated the newly built bridge over the Holy Bein near Gurdwara Ber Sahib, constructed at a cost of Rs 187 lakh.

He also laid the foundation stone of a 64 acre residential colony to be developed by PUDA.

He also laid the foundation stone of two 66 KV sub stations to be built at the cost of Rs eight crore at Khalu and Pandori villages Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur was also present on the occasion.

UNI