Punjab to acquire 24 hectares in 3 villages for Kartarpur corridor

Dera Baba Nanak/New Delhi, Jan 21

The Punjab Government has issued a notification to acquire land for the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib (Pakistan) corridor. The notification comes in the backdrop of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s request to the Centre to release funds for the project.

Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal today said Dera Baba Nanak SDM Ashok Sharma signed the notification on January 18 to acquire 24 hectares of land falling in the revenue jurisdiction of three villages — Jaurian, Chandu Nangal and Pakhoke Dera Sahib.

“A total of 24 hectares will be taken over to construct the 4.25- km-long stretch from Dera Baba Nanak to the zero line,” said Sharma.

Ujwal said a Central team would visit Dera Baba Nanak on January 23 to work out the modalities for constructing the integrated check post (ICP) and select sites where other infrastructural works are to be initiated.

Cooperation Minister and Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who recently claimed that Pakistan had started work on its side, said: “The time has come for the Centre to release funds. I have requested Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to give a facelift to the Dera Baba Nanak railway station.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan has shared a draft agreement with India on the corridor. It lists out proposals to facilitate the travel of Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur Gurdwara in Narowal, 4 km from the Gurdaspur border.

It has appointed Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal as its point person and requested Delhi to appoint one soon. A statement said India is invited to urgently send a delegation to finalise the agreement. — TNS