MLAs meet CM, flag graft, high power tariff

Chandigarh, October 12

At the first meeting of Congress MLAs convened by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, the legislators underscored the need to ensure that pro-people initiatives to improve government’s governance were visible on the ground.

Akalis hail ‘lal dora’ decision

• The SAD has appreciated the government’s decision to give property rights to dwellers of houses within the ‘lal dora’ in the state
• Muktsar SAD Scheduled Caste cell vice-president Harmesh Singh Khudian said: “This is a welcome step, which will not only give property ownership to dwellers, but will also help them take loan against it”
• Another Akali leader from Lambi said, “Though we are opponents, yet we welcome the decision of the Congress government. It was a long pending demand”

The meeting was held under the gaze of AICC observer Harish Chaudhary.

At the day-long meetings attended by MLAs from Mohali, Ropar, Jalandhar, Hoshairpur, Amritsar, Pathankot, Faridkot, Tarn Taran besides others, the legislators stressed the need for lowering the prevailing high power tariff for consumers other than economically weaker sections (EWS).

Problems being faced by the common man in dealing with matters related to urban local bodies, ranging from delay in clearing of layout plans to CLUs and rampant corruption in tehsil offices were flagged by MLAs.

It was pointed out that after the ban on issuance of NOCs for registration of properties, corruption in the Revenue department had gone up.

It was also demanded that a meeting of the MLAs representing the urban areas be called so that issues pertaining to the Local Government department were taken up on a priority basis.

Though the state government did not issue any statement regarding the meeting, the CM on his Twitter handle said it was decided to hold Suwidha camps at the local level where the district administration would redress grievances on the spot.

A party leader said the meeting had been called by the CM to have first-hand information about the issues and demands specific to each constituency. Officials present at the meeting were asked to note down the issues raised by each MLA. Based on the feedback, the future strategy would be devised. — TNS