Master plan for development of Punjab towns: Sukhbir

Jalandhar, Aug 28 (UNI) For development of the cities and towns in Punjab, a comprehensive master plan would be ready within six months, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) acting president Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today.

Talking to media persons, Mr Badal said,''Under the Urban Development Plan, every city in the state would be developed on the basis of master plan.'' For Central funding, a list of 44 cities has been forwarded to the Union Government, to be included in the Urban Renewal Mission Scheme of the Centre, he added.

On removing of turban during security check in the US, he said he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve the issue. He added that being a Sikh, the Prime Minister should apprise the US government that ''turban is a religious symbol of the minority community''.

On the turban issue pending with the France government, he said lackadaisical approach of Union Government has so far failed to bear any result.

Ruling out differences with alliance partner BJP, he said,''There is no dispute between the two partners on any issue, both work like a team and take decisions collectively.'' On the issue of levying taxes, he said the government was examining various ways to raise funds for the development of the state.

When asked about SAD's stand on nuclear stalemate, he suggested that the Prime Minister should have called an all party meet to resolve the issue.

On acquiring land for big projects in Punjab, he said the government was not opposed to investment in the state but would not acquire land for investors. ''The investors will now have to buy land at market rate with the farmers' consent,''he added.

UNI