NHAI Project in Punjab: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote a letter to CM Bhagwant Mann regarding NHAI projects and warned that road projects in Punjab will be stopped, so CM Bhagwant Mann has also responded to this letter of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann He said that the state government has started HHAI for the progress of the country and the state. It is committed to support and work through mutual cooperation.
In a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Minister said that the State Government fully understands the importance of NHAI projects for both the country and the State and the Punjab Government is committed to expeditiously implement these projects
He said that the state government is actively supporting NHAI in land acquisition and other related matters. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the reason why most of the NHAI projects are on track except a few in the state.
The Chief Minister said that in both the cases reported by Gadkari, the local police immediately registered FIRs under the relevant sections of the law. He further informed that arrests have been made in both these cases and during the investigation it was found that one incident was caused by NHAI. It was the result of excessive digging of land by the contractor. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the second incident was the result of the contractor not paying the financial balance to his sub-contractor and said that both the cases were caused by the contractor.
The Chief Minister said that despite all this, Punjab Police is the best force, NHAI is committed to take care of security concerns and has already directed the local police to deploy patrol teams in the area to maintain law and order.
He said that as far as issues related to land acquisition are concerned, the Union Minister should appreciate that the farmers of the state are emotionally attached to their land, as it is their invaluable asset and it is their livelihood – roti is the main resource. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from this, the price of land in Punjab is high, so if the farmers feel that they are not getting the price of the land, they would not agree to give their land.