CHANDIGARH – When it comes to development works in the constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, money is not an issue.
Over Rs 100 crore taken as loan by leasing out government properties under the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) scheme has been spent in 2015-2016 by the government on concretisation of streets and drains in 65 villages of Jalalabad, which is represented by the Deputy Chief Minister.
Out of the projected works of Rs 250 crore, around Rs 100 crore has been spent in 2015-2016 and works against the remaining amount are in progress.
Documents assessed by The Tribune reveal that around Rs 450 crore had been projected between 2015 and 2017 for the laying of concrete streets and drains in Jalalabad from the funds of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) under the OUVGL scheme.
Another Rs 200 crore is projected to be spent on streets and drains in another 87 villages in Jalalabad in the current financial year.
Defending the expenditure, some officials claimed the funds were also used for constructing district administrative complexes and jails. Streets and drains in other parts of Punjab are also being made from the funds.
Similar works had been done in Tarn Taran, Maur mandi, Rama Mandi (Bathinda) and Muktsar, they said.
Documents assessed by The Tribune reveal that in one specific case of concretising streets and drains in 17 villages of Jalalabad, the project cost escalated from Rs 15.18 crore to Rs 16.34 crore after the responsibility of executing it was moved from PUDA to Punjab Mandi Board.
Sources reveal that in the empowered committee meeting of the OUVGL held on September 17, 2013, Rs 15.18 crore was sanctioned for the work but the project was handed over to Mandi Board which executed it at a cost of Rs 16.34 crore. The issue of loss of Rs 72 lakh has been raised by a former Director, Housing and Urban Development, in communication to the Secretary, Housing and Urban development.
