Thanks to village-level politics,the development works costing rs 8 lakh at Haraj village are allegedly getting delayed because the woman sarpanch of the village belongs to a party other than the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) while all the panchayat members owe allegiance to the ruling party.
"The chief minister had granted rs8 lakh for building 5 streets and rs 1.5 lakh each for two dharamshalas in the village. All formalities, including the tendering process, for the projects have been completed, but some people, belonging to the SAD, do not want that the work on these works gets started under the present sarpanch as the SAD candidate from the village had lost the election for the sarpanch.They say that they would rather prefer to return the grant to the department concerned, instead of spending it on the proposed projects," claimed Gurpiar Singh, husband of sarpanch Harmandeep Kaur, who led a group that met the deputy commissioner of Muktsar two days ago and discussed the issue with him.
Jagroop Singh,a member of the panchayat,claimed that Gurpiar Singh was misleading the people on development works."The sarpanch has no quorum to pass any resolution as all the members belong to a different party, so noting can be done in this regard. However, we want that the development works get executed. The construction of a crematorium is going on and a veterinary hospital building is near completion," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Jagroop Singh,a member of the panchayat,claimed that Gurpiar Singh was misleading the people on development works."The sarpanch has no quorum to pass any resolution as all the members belong to a different party, so noting can be done in this regard. However, we want that the development works get executed. The construction of a crematorium is going on and a veterinary hospital building is near completion," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Parveen Kumar Gandhi,EXEN, panchayat department,admitted that the works for which the tendering process has been completed, have been stopped due to a tussle in the village.
"We are ready to start the works, but the contractor is apprehensive of a fight over the issue. We have assured the people to complete all the 5 streets if they settle the issue between themselves," he added.