Unauthorised colonies to be checked strictly : Badal

Ludhiana, Nov 7 (UNI) To ensure planned development of urban areas, the Punjab Government would strictly check the coming up of unauthorised residential colonies in all the cities of the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while addressing a gathering here today after attending Sangat Darshan Programmes (SDP) in city Ludhiana Rural Constituency, said that the directions in this regard had been issued to the concerned officers of Urban Development Authorities and Local Bodies.

Mr Badal said that for the planned development, excellent response was being received to the new scheme of government of "Pooling System of Agriculture Land of Farmers" for housing projects and disclosed that two such big offers had been received in Ludhiana district--one near village Gill and other near Jagroan.

The Chief Minister also released grants amounting to Rs 219.81 crore for the different development works including roads, water supply and sewerage projects, street lights, parks, community centers, dharmshalas and development in unauthorised colonies.

Out of the total grants of Rs 219.81 crore, funds of Rs 81.85 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of roads, Rs 74.38 crore for water supply and sewerage, Rs 13 crore for street lights, Rs 16.38 crore for construction of Community Center and Dharamshalas, Rs 4.72 crore for development of parks and Rs 28.67 crore for development in unauthorised colonies.

He said that his government had chalked out a comprehensive plan for the development in both urban and rural areas.

The government has already released funds amounting to Rs 350 crore for all the Municipal Councils and Nagar Councils at the rate of Rs 3 crore for A class Municipal Council, Rs 2 crore for B class, Rs 1 crore for C class and Notified Area Committees each.

He claimed that in the coming three years, all the basic amenities of excellent quality would be provided to the whole urban population.

Strongly refuting the "unnecessary" hue and cry raised by Congress leaders against the SDPs, the Chief Minister asserted that this programme was giving excellent results in solving the problems of the people on the spot and sanctioning the required development projects with direct discussion with the people of the area.

UNI PS JS1632