Excluding Abohar from the “Rangla Punjab” bonanza, Punjab Govt. provide only Rs 12.25 crore against Rs 500-crore development proposals to Abohar Municipal Corporation in the past 4.25 years.

This was stated by MLA Sandeep Jakhar at a programme held on the last working day of Mayor Vimal Thatai’s team. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced the construction of a “Modern bus stand” in Abohar during the first session of the Assembly, but it has yet to be constructed. In the Abha Square, only 70 out of 156 plots were auctioned. The successful bidders have yet to get electricity connections, their sale deeds were not registered. Tehsil Complex construction was lying incomplete.

Jakhar said that 85 percent share by the central government was approved to replace damaged sewage disposal pipe line from the STP but work was not being executed. Due to negligence in laying gas pipelines, roads, water and sewage pipe lines were punctured but the administration did not act. Gravel carpeting, using bitumen, is being done now during the rains but none was monitoring the substandard work.

He said that as the MC was under the leadership of the BJP, hurdles were created by the administration. Sanitation suffered because JCM machine, tippers, tractor-trolleys were not allowed to be repaired. Mayor had no financial powers but his team did their best to run the work.

“The AAP-led govt’s claim on zero-tolerance on corruption fell flat by denying investigation of the MC’s Diesel Scam even when councilors’ fact-finding committee recommended inquiry into the alleged purchase and consumption of fuel,” the MLA said.