Punjab State Commission for NRIs orders to see feasibility of creating separate quota for NRIs for providing tubewell connections

Chandigarh, September 4, 2013: In connection with the complaint by Gurdeep Singh resident of UK, an NRI, hailing from Thatta Nawan, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, the Punjab State Commission for NRIs has felt that order be again sent to the authorities concerned to see the feasibility of creating separate quota for NRIs for providing tubewell connections.

The complainant owns a land and he applied for a tubewell connection in the year 2011 and deposited the initial fee, but till date no connection has been provided. He has sought that there should be a separate quota for NRIs for pending tubewell connections. He seeks the intervention of the Commission, and necessary directions to the concerned authority, to do the needful.

The complainant had sent a subsequent communication that there should be a separate quota for the NRIs for providing tubewell connections.

Upon indulgence by the Commission Punjab State Power Corporation Commission (PSPCL) Patiala informed that there is no policy to provide tubewell connections to NRIs on priority basis. They are to be treated in general category. The complainant case is still in waiting list to get new tubewell connection. There is also no quota for NRIs as there is no such policy exists in the provisions of PSPCL Patiala. However, if government of Punjab enacts any policy to provide tubewell connections to NRIs on priority basis, only then any action could be taken in this directions.

NRIs Affairs is the priority of the Punjab Government. Punjab Government is formulating new schemes of 10 per cent quota for the NRIs in housing and industrial plots. Punjab Government also formulated a scheme for infrastructure developmental activities in their villages and rural/urban areas, under Plan scheme NRI-1 and reservation of NRIs wards in Educational Institutions.

That be so, then why not the tubewell connections on priority basis or under NRI quota to facilitate NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, who wants to visit their motherland to have proper cultivation of their land on the analogy of other new schemes launched by the Punjab Government referred to above. The Commission for this had already observed in the earlier order dated May 15 this year, which was sent to Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab and Secretary, PSPCL.

The Commission felt that this order be again sent to above said authorities to see the feasibility of creating separate quota for NRIs for providing tubewell connections, for the reasons mentioned above.

The Commission expect that Punjab Government to act swiftly in the matter and apprise it about the same, on or before the next date fixed for October 15 this year.