M A I N   N E W S

TRIBUNE INVESTIGATION
Move to resume Cantt bungalows
George promises to look into matter
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepore, January 11
Every time the situation becomes volatile along the border or the relations between the two hostile nations reach a flashpoint leaders across both sides of the fence engage in blistering rhetoric, the worst sufferers are residents of the border towns who due to fear of war hanging above their heads get dislodged from their homes. However, this time, it is not the onslaught of any enemy or fear of any war which is threatening to dislodge the populace residing in the cantonments, but the Army’s move to resume the “old grant bungalows”.

For the past few months, this border town is rife with rumours that the bungalows in the cantonment are being resumed by the Army. According to information, certain bungalow owners in Jalandhar and Ambala Cantonments have already been served with notices to vacate the bungalows for which a meagre compensation is being offered.

The apparent reason behind this move by the Army authorities is that the land occupied by these bungalows is required for defence purposes. The bungalow owners feel there is neither any bona fide necessity nor any shortage of space as maintained by the Army. The most disquieting aspect is that the MoD is being misinformed regarding non-availability of space.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, by the Ferozepore Bungalow Owners Association (FBOA), the members said more than 2000 acres of land was lying vacant in and around Ferozepore Cantonment. Mr Deshbir Singh Sodhi, President, FBOA, said the resumption of bungalows was a drastic step which could render the civilians homeless. He added that the refugees who had been allotted custodian properties in the cantonment in lieu of the properties left in Pakistan during Partition in 1947, now face the threat of being rendered homeless for the second time in case this move comes through.

The delegation of the Ferozepore Bungalow Owners Association accompanied by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, former CM, Cabinet Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Members of Parliament S.S. Mann and Lajpat Rai, Punjab BJP President Brij Lal Rinwa and Mr Sukhpal Singh, MLA, called on Mr Fernandes, and apprised him of the factual position in regard to these bungalows. Mr Fernandes assured them that a high-powered team from the MoD would visit Ferozepore to ascertain the ground situation and submit its report.

Mr Gurnaib Singh Brar, former MLA, Ferozepore Cantt, said there was already more than 2500 acres of land lying unused, so the move was nothing but a “deliberate attempt to chuck the civilians out of there abodes where they have been staying for years now.” He said during the two Indo-Pakistan conflicts, it was the civilian population which provided all sorts of assistance to the Army in utter disregard to their own safety as most of them refused to leave the station despite intensive artillery shelling by the enemy.

Mr Vinod Murghai, a landlord, said: “There are dozens of ill-maintained houses lying vacant and plots comprising hundreds of acres of land are lying unutilised”. About the security consideration, Mr Sodhi said in the entire history of the town, no civilian had been ever held responsible for a breach of security. To suggest that the civilians are a security risk is ludicrous”.

Ironically, all political stalwarts of the region, including Rana Gurmit Sodhi, MLA, Guruharsahai, and Political Secretary of the CM, Mr Ravinder Singh Sandhu, MLA, Ferozepore, Mr Sukhpal Singh, MLA, Ferozepore City, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, former Irrigation Minister, Mr Gurnaib Singh Brar, former MLA, Mr Ratinder Singh Saiyanwala, have bungalows in the cantonment area.

A similar move to resume the bungalows in the cantonment was mooted in 1986-87, but was shelved as it was not found to be in public interest. However this time the Army authorities seem determined.