Industry’s no to clean nullah at huge cost

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 20

The Bahadurke Textile and Knitwear Association has expressed shock over the state government’s recent announcement of cleaning the Buddha Nullah project at a cost of Rs 650 crore.

The association said there was a huge scam involved in it and the same should be thoroughly probed. Further, they have challenged the government that the industry was ready to take over the project for just about Rs 325 crore. The industrialists alleged that instead of making the public fool, the remaining amount should be utilised to beautify the city.

Talking to The Tribune, Tarun Jain Bawa, president, of the association, said the state government had put tenders for the cleaning of Buddha Nullah for Rs 650 crore.

“We had a detailed meeting today with the industry and companies, which are ready to do the project with much lesser price. We learnt that the Central Government is also putting a huge share in the project. The entire project will not cost over Rs 325 crore. How come the government is claiming to clean it for Rs 650 crore? Huge public money is involved in it. The scam needs to be stopped at any cost and the government should be countered over the matter,” Bawa said.

Many industry representatives attended today’s meeting held here on the matter and extended all support to the cause. Sanju Dhir, another industrialist, said such scams need to be exposed for the development of the city.

“We request the Chief Minister to arrange a one-to-one discussion of industry leaders with the officials concerned of the state government who are quoting such a huge price of Rs 650 crore. We claim that the same project with a better technology could be commissioned at a cost of Rs 325 crore. We will not allow the public money to be wasted like this. If the project not stopped, we will approach the Centre and the Prime Minister to intervene in the issue,” Bawa alleged.

‘Industry can take over project at half price’

The Bahadurke Textile and Knitwear Association has challenged the government that the industry was ready to take over the project for just about Rs 325 crore. The industrialists alleged that instead of making the public fool, the remaining amount should be utilised to beautify the city.