M A I N   N E W S

Badal tenders apology
Sale of Rajasthan land
From Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHAK 5 LNP (Sriganganagar), Feb 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today apologised for selling property of the Rajasthan Government located along Bikaner Canal in the state and said steps would be initiated to return the money along with interest soon.

He was interacting with mediapersons after the wedding ceremony of a grand daughter of Mr Gurjant Singh, a former Rajasthan Irrigation Minister here this afternoon. The inspection bunglows along the canal to the state had been wrongly clubbed with those of Punjab and auctioned irrigation rest houses. “ In fact, I only came to know about the whole story after it was highlighted in the media,” he revealed.

It may be recalled that the issue had been raised and discussed in these columns a couple of weeks ago. Stating that he had taken a serious view of the matter, the Chief Minister added that he had initiated an inquiry into the matter and action would be initiated against those responsible after the submission of the report. “I have instructed that the entire sum of the procceds be put before him so that the exact sum could be reimbursed to Rajasthan,” he added.

Mr Badal, however, denied that canal rest houses had allegedly been sold for a song to oblige ministers and certain favourites.

Commenting on the acute water crisis stalking Rajasthan due to the non-availability of water from Punjab, Mr Badal said he was willing to take all steps to solve the problem but the water level in Pong Dam was too low for the state to release any additional water in the canal.

When pressed further by mediapersons on the issue of water, he said he was also willing to extend the invitation to the fourth estate so that they could visit the dam and see things for themselves.

He, however, said the non-availability of water even in the areas fed by the canals was a serious issue besides airing his fears about the “possibility of a law and order situation in the state if the situation did not improve soon.”

Mr Badal also pointed out that the carrying capacity of the canals had decreased due to silt and the irregular repair schedule. This issue had to be taken up with the Centre so that adequate funds were sanctioned for the purpose.

He answered in the negative when asked about the rise in the number of cases of water theft from Bikaner canal. The canal was virtually theft proof, but he would look into the matter, he assured.

On the issue of the repair of Gang canal, money for which was released by the Rajasthan Chief Minister recently, he said Punjab would be glad to do so but had no objections if the state wanted to do it on its own or even engage a third party.