It’s curtains for town project conceived by GLADA

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 15

Bowing to prolonged agitation by the employees of two power corporations and pressure of trade unions of the power utility, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has taken a policy decision not to hand over 32 acre land under its possession in Ludhiana to the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for commercial purposes under the ‘Down Town’ project.

GLADA had conceptualised a ‘Down Town’ project for the city way back in 2013 and, allegedly under the pressure of the then SAD-BJP government, the PSPCL had agreed to hand over the 32 acre prime land on Ferozepeur Road (National Highway) for the project, which was to be spread in a total area of 100 acre land adjoining Sidhwan Canal.

However, the staff and engineers of the two power corporations – the PSPCL and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited, had been vehemently protesting the decision on the ground that all administrative offices of the two power corporations would have to be relocated at different places, which would cause huge inconvenience to the public.

The trade unions had also raised a banner of revolt against the move because handing over land to GLADA would have lead to dislocation of hundreds of families of the officials and employees, who were residing in two power colonies comprised in this area. Various political parties had also opposed the decision while alleging that it was taken under the influence of certain vested interests within the government, who were eyeing this prime commercial project with a huge potential.

It has been officially intimated that the 62nd meeting of the Board of Directors (BODs) of the PSPCL, held at Mohali (on November 30, 2017) approved the Item No. 9 on the agenda, wherein it was proposed by the Chief Engineer/DS, Central Zone, to drop the move for handing over the said 32 acre land to GLADA for the Down Town project.

A resolution adopted at the meeting of the BODs says: “Resolved that the approval be and is hereby accorded to drop the Down Town project at Ludhiana approved vide the decision taken in the 31st meeting of the BODs held on November 29, 2013, at Mohali to hand over two (power) colonies in Ludhiana. Further resolved that Chief Engineer, Central Zone, Ludhiana, shall intimate GLADA regarding the above decision of the Board.”