THE DEMAND FOR PERMANENT OWNERSHIP OF LAND IS COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED, SAYS GOVERNOR

Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur

The demand to provide permanent ownership rights of land so that compensation for crops can be given and to enable access to government welfare schemes is absolutely justified. This matter will be brought to the attention of the Chief Minister and efforts will be made to resolve it permanently. These views were expressed today by the Governor of Punjab, Gulab Chand Kataria, while talking to the media after meeting the flood-affected people at the relief centre set up in the village Bare Ke school, Ferozepur.

On this occasion, MLA Ferozepur City Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Commissioner Ferozepur Division Arun Shekhri, Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma,and SSP Bhupinder Singh were present with him. Prior to this, he paid homage to the martyrs at the Hussainiwala Memorial.

Governor Kataria said that more than 250 flood victims have been accommodated safely at the relief centre set up in Bare Ke School. The affected people informed him that they and their families have been cultivating these lands for the last 70 years. Earlier, the girdawari (land cultivation record) was in their name. However, since their names have now been removed from government records, they are deprived of compensation and benefits of government schemes.

They further pointed out that every year they suffer due to floods, and whenever there is a threat of war, they have to leave their homes and move to safer places.

After hearing their problems, The Governor realized that these people have to face a double blow every year, and hence a permanent solution to their issues is necessary. To ensure this, he would personally meet the CM and bring the matter to his attention for resolution. He added that while these people are cultivating land along the border, they could be given residential plots with ownership rights at safe locations, so that they do not have to abandon their homes during floods or times of war.

He emphasized that whenever water is released from headworks or dams, arrangements must be made to move these people to safer places in the time it takes for the water to reach their area. He assured that by holding discussions with the Chief Minister, district administration, and government, a solution will be worked out to provide relief to the affected families.

Before this, The Governor visited the headworks to review the water level and inspected the road leading to the Retreat Ceremony, which had been damaged due to heavy inflow of water. He also obtained information from BSF officials regarding its early repair.