Punjab to take up land ownership issue with HP, Rajasthan

Chandigarh, Feb 23 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today denied that the government was planning a legislation to bar outsiders from owning land in Punjab, and said he would take up a similar matter with the governments of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to do away with such legislations.

''Entire India is one nation, and every citizen should have a right to own a piece of land in any of the states,'' he said in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.

Replying to a query during the question hour, the Chief Minister further informed the House that several big companies and other private entrepreneurs were keen on investment in Punjab, as the Centre had already sanctioned three of the nine proposed 'special economic zones' (SEZs) in the state.

The multinational companies like DELL and Infosys had already proposed heavy investment in the IT sector in Punjab, he said.

A sum of Rs 159.32 crore and Rs 145.75 crore has been invested in the IT sector by the Indian and foreign companies respectively in Punjab during the period from 2002 to 2005, he added.

A single window system was already existing in the state for approval of the projects relating to the establishment of business in IT sector under the state's Industrial Policy, 2003, he said adding.

The Chief Minister, earlier informed the House that the Home department had yesterday dismissed four policemen who were found guilty of custodial death at the Batala police station in Gurdaspur district.

He said he had also issued warning instructions across the state that the police men ''from top to bottom'' would not be spared in case of any custodial death.

UNI PS RR KP1743