SAD-BJP GOVERNMENT BLATANTLY IGNORED FIRE EXTINGUISHING MECHANISM: NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU

· DIDN’T BOTHERED TO ISSUE USER CERTIFICATES FOR EXPENDITURES WORTH RS. 17.60 CRORE

· MISUSE OF CENTRAL FUNDS LANDED PUNJAB IN ‘RED ZONE’ CATEGORY

· SPECIAL DIRECTORATE TO BE CONSTITUTED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SERVICES

· ‘ANNUAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING SERVICE WEEK’ TO BE OBSERVED FROM 17-21 APRIL

· LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER ENQUIRES AFTER WELL BEING OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING PERSONNEL
Ludhiana, May 21, 2017: The Local Government Minister, Punjab, Mr.Navjot Singh Sidhu today launched a scathing attack on previous SAD-BJP Government for blatantly ignoring disaster management systems and said that in a vital sector as fire extinguishing mechanism, only Rs. 60 lakh were spent out of Rs.4.60 crores received from 2009-2013 where as in respect of disaster management out of received Rs. 629 crore, a sum of Rs. 91 crore was earmarked for fire extinguishing management but only Rs. 17 crores were spent for the purpose whose user certificate was not sent to the Union Government resulting in stopping of central grants for the purpose. He also said that due to this non-utilization and improper use of funds, Punjab has been placed in’Red Zone’ by the Union Government.
Interacting with the mediapersons at the local circuit house, Mr. Sidhu said that the leave alone proper utilization of the State’s revenue the previous dispensation didn’t adequately used grants received from the Union Government which earned a bad name for the state during past 10 years. He also said that the mishaps recently occurring in Ludhiana made him review the works done till now and he found out that the government funds received for the purpose have been grossly misused.
Giving more details, the minister divulged that a total of Rs. 4.60 crores were to be spent on the fire extinguishing management due to the grant received from the Union Government from 2009-2013 and the state’s share. He rued the fact that owing to the ignorant attitude of the previous government, the Finance Department rekeased only Rs. 60 lakh. The user certificate pertaining to the usage of Rs. 60 lakh had to be sent to the Union Government which was not sent resulting in rendering balance Rs. 4 crore amount as waste.
Disclosing more, the Minister said that Rs. 629 crores were allotted to the urban areas of the state for disaster management during previous times which comprised a performance grant of Rs. 217 crore. Out of this, a sum of Rs. 91 crore was to be spent on fire extinguishing mechanism. Out of released Rs. 45 crore, only Rs. 17 crore were spent whose user certificates were not sent to the Union Government which lead to the balance amount of Rs. 74 crore as infructuous.
The minister also detailed that the Captain Amarinder Singh led government has decided to go in for a fire extinguishing directorate in Punjab to make it self-reliant in the sphere of disaster management especially focusing on the fire extinguishing management. He said that during the previous times this significant sector faced such a sordid state of affairs that only a clerk was managing the affairs in the headquarters.
Mr. Sidhu also elaborated that the Punjab Government would observe fire extinguishing service week on annual basis from 17th – 21st April. Appreciating the bravery of the firemen injured in putting out the fire during recent mishaps in Ludhiana, Mr. Sidhu said that the Punjab Government is providing free treatment to these bravehearts and they would also be honoured during a soon to be held function besides being given promotions.
Divulging further, the minister revealed that the State Government had sent a proposal worth Rs. 40 crore to the Union Government to strengthen the fire extinguishing mechanism in the state which has been granted approval with the Union Government assuring financial assistance of Rs. 50 crore more from its coffers. Out of this total Rs. 90 crore amount, the new equipments would be purchased. He also said that going by the population, Punjab needs 500 modern fire tenders where as at present the state has just one. He also disclosed that 40 fire service vehicles in the state have been updated.
Mr. Sidhu further said that as of now, all the 183 municipal corporations and municipal councils of the state are neck deep in debt. He revealed that the present government is enquiring as to how much grants were received for local government projects and where each penny was spent during the tenure of the previous government. He also said that the promotions granted just 6 months ahead of elections in total violation of the rules are also being thoroughly probed. In a first of its kind measure, a social and technical audit has been initiated to unearth the irregularities of financial and other nature Whosoever is found guilty, would not be spared.
Challenging the former Chief Minister and former Deputy Chief Minister to an open debate, Mr. Sidhu said that he is ready for a debate on the hometurf of these two i.e. village badal. He said that every unnecessary decision of the previous regime would be reviewed.
Earlier, the minister visited CMC hospital and enquired about the health of the injured firemen assuring them of every possible help by the state government.
Prominent among others accompanying him on the occasion were Lok Sabha MP Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLAs Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Mr. Sanjay Talwar, Mr. Surinder Kumar Davar, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Mr. Jaskiran Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Sandeep Garg, General Secretary of Congress Mr. Amarjit Singh Tikka, District President Mr. Gurdev Singh Lapran, District President (Urban) Mr. Gurpreet Singh Gogi, Mr. Narinder Sharma, Mr. Shampy Bhanohar and other dignitaries.