Chandigarh: In a rare display of intra-party friction, a few Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs cornered their own govt during the Question Hour in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday, putting ministers on the defensive over alleged administrative apathy, a land scam, and delayed development projects.“Will there be action taken in this case or will dust continue to be thrown in everyone’s eyes?” asked AAP MLA from Payal Manwinder Singh Giaspura, while highlighting a delay in panchayat land bidding in his constituency.Expressing dissatisfaction with panchayat minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond’s response, Giaspura challenged him on the floor of the House. “If the minister can prove even a single bidding took place in Daulatpur village, I will resign as MLA… This House is not a platform to utter falsehoods. Only the truth should be spoken here,” he said.Ropar MLA Dinesh Chadha alleged that 717 acres of prime panchayat land in village Bara Phool, close to the IIT, had been “fraudulently” grabbed in “connivance” with officers and an influential mafia.Chadha pointed out that despite the panchayat passing a resolution to clear the land, the state govt had failed to initiate a vigilance inquiry, prompting him to demand a strict timeline from minister Sond, who assured that he would consult the advocate general and take due action.Dera Bassi MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa questioned revenue minister Hardeep Singh Mundian over an inadequate administrative complex.Not satisfied with the minister’s reply that the SDM office had been temporarily shifted to a community centre, Randhawa retorted, “Had I been satisfied with the reply, why would I have been pursuing the matter even after 1.5 years?”He highlighted that Dera Bassi, with a population of 15 lakh, still lacked a proper divisional complex, scattering key offices miles apart and forcing citizens to spend an hour to reach the SDM. “The tehsil office functions in a 50×50 feet office. It takes one hour for the general public to reach the SDM’s office,” said Randhawa.Meanwhile, AAP MLA Saravjit Kaur Manuke flagged a stalled school infrastructure project in her area, noting that former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had sanctioned Rs 80 lakh for 23 rooms, but no work had materialised. “It is a fraud. There should be a committee to inquire into the issue,” she demanded.AAP MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann (Nakodar) pointed out that the bus stand in her constituency of Nakodar was in a dilapidated condition and the building was declared unsafe by the PWD long ago. However, the Nakodar bus stand is not included in the list of 27 bus stands for which budget provision has been made for an upgrade.Wall in front of shops for ROB?AAP MLA Naresh Kataria (Zira) flagged the issue of a wall being built in front of shops along a railway overbridge to be built on National Highway 54 at Makhu, Zira constituency. “I have never seen such a wall with an ROB, which has become a source of inconvenience for around 150 shopkeepers in the area,” he said.‘Patwari thinks he’s the chief secretary’AAP MLA Sardar Gurdit Singh (Faridkot) flagged the ground-level issues with canal water supply for irrigation. “The small landowners are more in need of water. A patwari in the area is calling the shots on water distribution. He thinks of himself no less than the chief secretary. He has got cases registered against dead persons,” the legislator alleged.In response, water resources minister Barinder Goyal clarified that accumulation of 50 acres of area was not a mandatory condition for approval of branches or sub-branches under the Sirhind Feeder System, Makhu Canal System, Eastern Canal System and Ferozepur Feeder System. However, priority is given to those branches under which an area of 50 acres or more falls. This is being done so that the maximum area can be brought under irrigation within the funds available to the department, the minister added.1st ‘Mahila Haat’ in JalalabadHousing minister Hardip Singh Mundian on Monday informed the House that a proposal had been received from the department of rural development and panchayats for the construction of a ‘Mahila Haat’ with 46 showrooms by PUDA at Jalalabad. He said the proposal was under consideration by the department.Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy, who had asked a question in this regard, said it would be the first women-exclusive project in the state, adding that his wife had prepared the project.Abohar’s sewerage woesAbohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar demanded the release of Rs 675 lakh for laying of a rising main – a pressurised main pipe used to pump wastewater or sewage – running from a disposal point to a drainage channel.Speaker advises chatting MLAs to move outDuring the Question Hour, Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan urged legislators to maintain decorum, remarking that those who wished to chat during proceedings could move to a separate room.
