Congress, AAP claim Kalka segment ignored; MLA failed to utilise funds, counters BJP
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, August 30
Leaders of the Congress, AAP and the BJP are at odds over the question of development of Kalka Assembly segment in the last five years. While incumbent MLA Pradeep Chaudhary states the constituency has been completely ignored with regard to the provision of basic amenities, BJP leader Latika Sharma maintains that the government had completed several key projects.
During discussions related to elections in the constituency, the condition of roads and bridges and the status of projects in the area are hot topics.
New mandi garners positive response
The new apple and vegetable mandi in Kalka has garnered positive response by attracting growers and businessmen. The work of Pinjore bypass Baddi road, which includes the Amravati underpass area, is set to be completed in a month. We have also started the railway overbridge on the Baddi-Kalka road a few days ago, while the installation of 132-KV power station at Nanakpur village was completed two months ago. The state has also made Model Schools in Raipur Rani and Morni areas. — Latika Sharma, BJP leader
Pardeep Chaudhary, a two-time MLA of 2009 and 2019, says the constituency has been ignored during the last five years. “The state government failed to provide even the basic minimum facilities to residents. The Kalka-Pinjore area lacks proper water supply. At times, there is a delay in the supply for over two days. Moreover, the area experiences up to 10-hour-long electricity cuts, which is a major inconvenience to people.”
He says the government has failed to revive the HMT tractor factory project, provide employment opportunities and ensure completion of the 7-km-long Pinjore-Baddi road around Sukhomajri village.”
Congress leader Advocate Vijay Bansal alleges that Kalka has been rendered as one of the most backward areas under the BJP rule. He says the state failed to revive the region’s HMT tractor plant which could have provided jobs to hundreds of youths. “Instead, they went ahead and developed an apple and vegetable mandi on 78 acres of land, spending Rs 400 crore on it.”
He says that the pending projects like the construction of 7-km-long Pinjore-Baddi, Sukhomajri bypass road, the cancelled Yamunanagar-Naraingarh-Chandigarh railway line project could have benefited the area. “The Ambala-Naraingarh irrigation scheme, aimed at providing water to Raipur Rani from Tajewala dam in Yamunanagar at a cost of Rs 400 crore has also remained sidelined since 2014,” he added.
Ranjit Uppal, AAP district president, Panchkula, who wants to contest from Kalka, says no major work was undertaken in the area in last five years. He says, “The government’s roads gave way just after being inaugurated. This includes the 5-km-long Pinjore garden to Kalka road constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore that developed potholes within four months of construction. Even the recently constructed Pinjore-Baddi ROB gave way within a month of its inauguration and is being repaired.”
BJP leader Latika Sharma, who became the MLA in 2014 but lost to Chaudhary in their second bout in 2019, however, says the BJP government has done what it proposed to do in last five years.
She says, “The new apple and vegetable mandi in Kalka has garnered positive response by way of attracting growers and businessmen. The work of Pinjore bypass Baddi road, which includes the Amravati underpass area, is set to be completed in a month. We have also started the railway overbridge on the Baddi-Kalka road a few days ago, while the installation of 132-KV power station at Nanakpur village was completed two months ago. The state has also made Model Schools in Raipur Rani and Morni areas.”
She said in July, the state government inaugurated works of 11 roads of 71.24-km length at a cost of Rs 53.47 crore in Kalka. Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) minister Banwari Lal also laid the foundation stone of 19 roads of 47.63 km in length to be constructed at a cost of Rs 26.02 crore. The government laid the foundation stones for the construction of four new tubewells as well, she said.
“The government has completed important projects. Despite the fact that the area MLA was from another party, the BJP state government provided Rs 5 crore for development works in the constituency every year. The area MLA failed to utilise the funds for public benefit,” she alleges.
