Ludhiana: In a significant move, Gram Sabha of Village Sekhowal, Block Mangat, (Ludhiana 1) held a session today. Village Sarpanch, Panchayat members and village residents took part in this Gram Sabha session. The Gram Sabha unanimously resolved against Punjab government’s proposal to built an industrial park on this village’s common/panchayati land.
The resolution mentions that the session of Gram Sabha was called by village Panchayat and Block Development & Panchayat Officer (B.D.P.O) and panchayat secretary were duly informed through official channels to participate in this session. Panchayat secretary was also informed to bring Panchayat register. The resolution notes that when both B.D.P.O and panchayat secretary failed to join the session, the Gram Sabha authorised Balbir Singh s/o Pritam Singh to record the proceedings of the session.
Gram Sabha resolution further states that the Gram Sabha came to know that B.D.P.O. had got it resolved from Panchyat to agree with Punjab government’s proposal to build industrial park on around 407 acres land of village Panchayat. When asked about this resolution during the Gram Sabha the Sarpanch Amrik Kaur said that she had no information about any such resolution.
She said that Panchayat Secretary had called her and Panchayat members at B.D.P.O. office from where they were taken to DC office. At DC office they were asked to sign on some written proceedings.
Village Sarpanch told the Gram Sabha that when they asked B.D.P.O. about those proceedings, they were told that it was for the welfare of their village. She said trusting the Punjab government officials they signed the document.
She said that the contents of the proceedings were not known to them as neither these proceedings were written in their presence nor the contents were read before them. She said that they were not aware that the proceedings were meant to take permission of the village Panchayat to acquire their village land for industrial park.
READ FULL RESOLUTION ADOPTED by GRAM SABHA:
The resolution further notes that the entire population of village Sekhowal belongs of Scheduled Caste and the village land was their only mean to earn livelihood. Moreover villagers had fought a long legal better before various courts, including the Supreme Court of India, to get the land registered on the name of village Panchayat. Even the entire village is built on Panchayat land. Thus, the resolution passed by the Gram Sabha further says, the proposed industrial park poses existential threat to their village.
The resolution says that the Punjab government officials mislead and misguided the village panchayat to signed the earlier resolution. They Gram Sabha demanded to quash earlier Panchayat resolution and told the Punjab government to not to transfer or acquire their land for any industrial park.
The resolution says that if the Punjab government and concerned officials fail to according to Gram Sabha resolution then the Gram Sabha will initiate legal/litigation course.