Gurdaspur, July 26
The long-standing proposal to convert the Batala Municipal Council (MC) into a full fledged corporation may finally take concrete shape. The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal assured the SAD-BJP leaders of Gurdaspur district that their suggestion will be considered on priority basis. The CM also cleared, in principal, the decision to construct a mini- secretariat at Batala near the new judicial complex.

It is pertinent to mention that the decision to grant corporation status to Moga, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara has already been taken by the state government and the decision is likely to be made public soon. At a meeting held in Chandigarh, Batala area incharge LS Lodhinangal pushed the case for granting corporation status to Batala. The demand for creating the post of additional deputy commissioner (ADC) for Batala was also taken up in the meeting. The issue of scores of illegal colonies mushrooming in Batala was also discussed. Interestingly, while the halqa incharges joined hands when it came to furthering their common interests, tempers ran high when the recently concluded block samiti and panchayat elections were discussed. A heated verbal exchange took place between two SAD leaders”, disclosed an insider. — TNS