Patiala: Punjab power minister Sanjeev Arora on Wednesday dismissed allegations by a grouping of eight power sector unions that he had a conflict of interest in the sale of PSPCL land under a scheme for optimal use of vacant govt land. Arora, who is on a tour of the Netherlands with the CM to attract investment in the state, said the claims made by the Power Sector Joint Action Committee earlier in the day were “baseless”.His statement came after the committee wrote to chief minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding Arora’s removal over the alleged discrepancy. “The scheme is years old. Even if the land of PSPCL will be sold, it will go through an auction and other legal process. The power engineers should disclose a name of these family members or anyone linked with me,” he said.The letter, signed by committee secretary Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, claimed that the minister oversaw the sale of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited properties under the optimum utilisation of vacant govt lands (OUVGL) scheme. The committee also alleged that the sale of PSPCL properties was carried out while ignoring objections raised by state trade unions and associations.The committee urged the CM to reassign the department portfolio to another minister. A copy of the letter was also sent to governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The committee comprises PSEB Engineers’ Association, Council of Junior Engineers, Bijli Mulajam Sangrashsheel Morcha, Accounts Cadre Association, Pensioners’ Association, IT Officers’ Association, HR Officers’ Association and the Admin Officers’ Welfare Association. MSID:: 130443869 413 |
