Punjab government on Friday categorically stated that "development projects in Amritsar have always been undertaken and pursued with expeditiousness, urgency and speed befitting the immense religious and historical status of the city."
"There has never been any delay at the level of the State government or the local bodies in Amritsar. The only delays have been for reasons beyond Government control such as court interventions or Central Government clearances," said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He added that wherever there has been a delay, it has only and only been due to litigation or lack of clearances by the concerned departments of the Central Government, such as Railways in case of Bhandari bridge, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in case of project of chowk near the "protected site" of Ram Bagh, failure to supply CNG by the Gas Authority of India", among others. Responding to Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's allegations of "anomalies" by Amritsar Improvement Trust in lending money as loan on interest to other local bodies, Badal said "there was no anomaly, illegality or irregularity involved in this. Funds of local bodies are subject to audit and not a single penny can be misused or misappropriated with impunity."
Giving details of the status of all these projects, the Chief Minister has assured the MP that there has been nor will there be any delay at the level of the State Government or local bodies in the commencement or completion of any development project in the State.
Badal has asked the MP to "come forward with any new idea on the development of the city."