Badal okays Rs 3.30 crore for ROB - Jakhar slams Akali leader Ghubaya for delaying project; alleges cost escalation

Friday, 07/11/2014

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141107/punjab.htm#1

Abohar : Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has released Rs 3.30 crore more for the construction of a railway overbridge (ROB) through the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB). Sunil Jakhar, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today confirmed that the money was yesterday credited to the account of Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Fazilka. He said the money would be transferred to the Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala. Though some BJP leaders met the CM in Chandigarh yesterday in this regard, Jakhar already got Rs 3.30 crore credited to the PWD’s bank account.

Jakhar slammed Ghubaya at a press conference held at his residence. He said SAD MP had cost the state exchequer Rs 3.30 crore more for delaying the project. He said Ghubaya wanted to claim credit for the project. Jakhar claimed he would recover the money from Ghubaya. He also criticised the local BJP leaders who had met the CM.

On December 23, 2013, Chief Engineer, PWD, informed the Senior Divisional Engineer, Northern Railway, Ambala, that the state government would provide funds to the tune of Rs 4 crore for the light iron overbridge that would be constructed by the Railways in Abohar. The Chief Minister in a separate letter had clearly stated that he had approved the project on Jakhar’s request.

The Railways had decided that the stone would be laid by Sunil Jakhar on February 7, 2014. When the stone with Jakhar’s name engraved on it was laid, the district administration advised Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Anil Kumar Kathpal to cancel the inauguration. In an email to Jakhar, Kathpal said he was told that the names of SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and Gurtej Singh, SAD legislator, Balluana, also needed to be engraved on the stone. Thereafter, the project was delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections.

Last month, Senior Divisional Engineer, Northern Railway, Ambala, informed the Punjab PWD Chief Engineer that the Railways had revised the budgeted cost. He said the state would have to deposit Rs 3.30 crore more so that the land for the ROB could be leased.

Jakhar urged the ruling politicians to exert influence in New Delhi to get the construction work started. The UPA Government had in principle approved the project.

The controversy

The Railways had decided that the stone would be laid by Sunil Jakhar on February 7, 2014

When the stone with Jakhar's name engraved on it was laid, the district administration advised Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar Kathpal to cancel the inauguration

In an email to Jakhar, Kathpal said he was told that the names of SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and Gurtej Singh, SAD legislator, Balluana, also needed to be engraved on the stone

Thereafter, the project was delayed due to Lok Sabha elections