Bajwa demands transparency in wards delimitation

Punjab Congress today demanded transparency in the delimitation process of wards by making it online as the party gears up for the upcoming local bodies elections in the state.
It submitted a memorandum to this effect to Governor Shivraj Patil and the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The situation was reviewed by state party chief Partap Singh Bajwa at a meeting of district presidents followed by that of the heads of frontal organisations.
The PPCC chief said the party would take up property tax, delay in issuance of NOCs for property registration and other issues concerning the urban population including the pathetic condition of roads and sanitation to aggressively confront the Akali Dal-BJP combine.

In the memorandum, the party slammed Badal government for not giving representation to it in the process of formation of wards.
"The entire process was being done in a most clandestine and secretive manner. No information regarding the proposed wards was being supplied to the Congress in the municipal council or municipal corporation despite repeated demands in this respect," he alleged.

The memorandum alleged the delimitation of wards was being done as per "the whims and fancies" of the leaders, halqa incharges and workers of the Akali Dal and BJP.
The party demanded that in the interest of level playing field and fair play, it was imperative to provide the information to the general public and the opposition political parties.

"In order to provide total transparency, the delimitation of wards should be made available online which will provide proper opportunity to the general public and concerned persons including the other political parties to file objections against the proposed delimitation if any," Bajwa said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President also accused the state government of not being able to prevent damage caused by heavy rains in Muktsar and Abohar districts during recent rains.
In a statement, Bajwa said despite the fact that Lt General B S Dhaliwal (Retd), Technical Advisor to the Chief Minister, submitted his report to the state government after reviewing the problem last year following the damage due to heavy rains, no action was taken by the government.

"This amounts to criminal apathy of the Badal government towards the plight of the people. This is despite the fact that the UPA government had allocated Rs 850 crore to the state government to solve the problem," he alleged.
The PPCC chief pointed out that the recommendations submitted to the government were wide ranging, including re-alignment of the drains and change in cropping pattern.