Chandigarh, July 5
The Punjab Forest Minister, Mr Harbans Lal, seems to be in serious trouble because of his “indictment” in a multi-crore tree felling scam in Ropar district.
Informed sources today said the action against Mr Harbans Lal was on the cards. The government was considering all options, including asking him to resign or face a sack. There is even a proposal to get a criminal case registered against him.
The sources said on the basis of the inquiry report submitted by the Principal Secretary, Mr P.Ram, the government had prepared a case against Mr Lal. The case file had been submitted to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who returned from Delhi today.
When contacted, Capt Amarinder Singh told The Tribune that he was looking into the matter. He today met Punjab Governor, Justice O.P. Verma, who was to fly to Delhi to meet the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, later in the day.
The sources said the action against the minister would go a long way to prove that the Chief Minister's fight against corruption was even handed and it was not a single-track operation. It would also dispel the impression that only Akali leaders were being targeted and nothing was being done against the ruling party ministers against whom serious allegations of corruption had been levelled.
In the inquiry report submitted by Mr P.Ram, it has been established that the minister and a former departmental secretary had colluded with certain private contractors to allow the reckless felling of trees in Ropar district.
