Chandigarh: On the one hand the Punjab government has dubbed the appointment letters given to 254 Junior Engineers of Irrigation Department as Diwali Gift to these young people. On the other hand Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has termed the imposition of new municipal tax as well as increasing development charges in towns and cities as ‘Diwali Gift’ to the urbanites.
Rana Gurjeet Singh (L), NK Sharma (R) [File Photos]
Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh reportedly said that that the approval to appoint these 254 JEs in Irrigation Department was given today in hurry on the instructions of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to ensure a happy Diwali for all these young people. He further added that Punjab Government is committed to fill all the desired vacancies of Irrigation department on priority besides upgrading its infrastructural requirement to increase its efficiency.
But the opposition party SAD (Badal) while terming the imposition of new taxes and further financially burdening the common man has said that this “Diwali” gift of new charges imposed on urbanites, would further hit the common man and impact his finances adversely. “It was unfortunate that the common man had been burdened with a municipal tax equivalent to two per cent of power bills in municipal areas besides increase in external development charges, increase in road cutting fee besides other services being provided by the municipalities” said N K Sharma SAD (B)’s spokesman.