Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7

A number of city-based activists, who are opposing the proposed modern industrial park near Mattewara, have written to the Chief Town Planner (CTP), Punjab, PUDA, as they have alleged that no sketch/layout plan of the proposed amendments to the master plan of Ludhiana is being made available to the public.

Objections and suggestions have been invited from the general public for amendments to the master plan of Ludhiana.

The objections and suggestions for the proposed amendments in the master plan of Ludhiana regarding – “To allow Modern Industrial Park/mixed landuse development by the Govt of Punjab under the GoI scheme, in no-manufacturing zone within 1 km belt along Dhusi Band of Sekhowal, Ghari Fazal, Salempur villages with adequate flood-protection measures along with the construction of road over the embankment to sufficiently isolate the river” – have been sought by the CTP, Punjab.

Dr Amandeep Singh Bains of RBS Roots (NGO), said, “It is mentioned in the advertisement that the sketch plan/layout plan of the proposed amendments is displayed at various places, including website www.puda.gov.in and respective regional development office for inspection of general public. But, the fact is that no sketch/layout plan of the proposed amendments to the master plan of Ludhiana has been displayed on PUDA’s website and at the GLADA office.”

Jaskirat Singh, another activist, said, “We have also visited GLADA’s office to check the proposed amendments, but we were not provided any information. I had been checking the website of PUDA for more than past two weeks, but the layout plan regarding Ludhiana was unavailable. Even no information regarding the proposed industrial park near Mattewara was earlier provided under the RTI Act.”

Kuldeep Singh Khaira, another activist, said, “It seems the government authorities concerned are hiding the required information from the public. The suggestions and objections are to be filed within 30 days of the publication of the advertisement. We want to keep our view about the proposed modern industrial park. In the absence of the availability of the sketch plans/layout plans for the proposed amendments on the department’s website and office, we are unable to study these proposed amendments.”

“We request the PUDA authorities that the sketch plans/ layout plan of the proposed amendments to the master plan of Ludhiana be made available first on the official website as well as on the public notice boards of the authorities concerned, including GLADA, and a fresh public notice be advertised and the date of submission of all suggestions/objections be 30 days from the date of the publication of that fresh public notice only,” he said.

GLADA chief PS Gill said he would look into the matter.