Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Two congress MLAs cornered Ministers of their own government on the delays in development works while Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot exchanged barbs with senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia in the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.
These three incidents enlivened up the Question Hour which saw a rare peaceful proceeding with no walk out or sloganeering by the members. It was also a rare achievement for the House with all questions listed for the day taken up within the stipulated time.
Congress MLA from Amritsar (North) Sunil Dutti asked Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra why a Community Centre built with Rs 11 crore in his constituency was closed for three years? When the Minister replied that an operation committee was formed to run the Centre and two meetings were held already, MLA Dutti said he wondered if things moved in the government only when an MLA asked question in the House.
“I have been demanding opening of the Community Centre for three years but no action was taken. However, when I submitted this question last month, things started moving and meetings were held. Does things move only when we ask questions in the House?” he asked adding when would the Centre start working as people have to pay hefty fee for hiring private marriage resorts for functions.
“Also, if the government will take action against officials whose laxity delayed the opening of the Centre? When the Minister replied that the MLA can meet him later and list out names of the officials, Speaker Rana K P Singh intervened asking the Minister to assure action against lax officials whether the MLA met him or not as the question was raised in the House. The Minister assured an inquiry will be held to fix responsibility.
Then Congress MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur from Ghanaur constituency stumped his own party government pointing out that promises made in Budget 2018-19 were not fulfilled. He said it was announced in the Budget two years ago that Ghanaur civil hospital would upgraded but it has not been done. Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said upgradation can be done only if the Finance Department gave funds. The unsatisfied MLA asked repeatedly for a deadline for the upgradation at which the peeved Minister said the MLA didn’t raise the matter when the Ministry was headed by Brahm Mohindra, the MLA from the same district of Jalalpur. At the intervention of the Speaker, the Health Minister assured the upgradation will be done within a year.
Akali MLA Bikram Singh Majithia exchanged barbs with Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot on the alleged decline in number of migratory birds visiting Harike wetland. Majithia said the number of birds has come down from 1.23 lakh in 2018-19 to about 91000 in 2019-20 due to encroachments by some persons having support of the Congress leaders. The Forest Minister said the correct data said the number of migratory birds was 91000 this season while in the previous was 90561 which meant the number had risen. He said the number had come down earlier due to the running of an amphibious Bus during the SAD-BJP tenure as a pet project of senior Akali leader.
KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS DURING QUESTION HOUR
*Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu in reply to a query by MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy said government was trying to fill vacant posts in Dhuri civil hospital but there was not move to upgrade the hospital.
* PWD and Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla in response to a question by MLA Harminder Singh Gill said there was no move to construct a foot over-bridge in Sarhali over the National Highway.
* Singla in reply to a question by MLA Darshan Lal said Government High Schools at Mutton, Simbal Majara, Garlon Bet, Mehatpur and Chaniani Khurd in Balachaur Tehsil do not fulfil the criteria for upgradation to senior secondary level.
* Singla in reply to MLA Lakhbir Singh Longowal declined there was any proposal to four-lane the Baba Bakala-Rayia road
