The government is planning to widen the National Highway running
through Sangrur, Dhuri and other areas by 16.5 feet on both sides to
facilitate easy movement of troops, heavy vehicles and armoured units.
The National Highway is the main link between north-west Punjab/Haryana
and the army’s operational area further west.
However, there is a
problem: Widening the highway would result in the demolition of
thousands of homes/shops which have been there for decades. No amount of
compensation and re-allotment of land would rehabilitate them as these
people have been living and working here for generations and displacing
them would cause irreparable damage.
Rural development is of utmost importance if a country has
to progress. But I think it will be eventually time consuming and unsafe
for our troops to travel through Sangrur and Dhuri. A better solution
would be to make a bypass skirting the towns. This would ensure that
people are not uprooted and at the same time would assist movement of
troops and people in general.
As a social activist, I have served the people of Punjab for the past
16 years and consider each one of them a part of my family. I would do
everything in my means to ensure that the plight of the people is heard
in the right platform. I have already written to the minister of state
for road transport and highways and he has assured me that he will look
into the matter. I have faith that the government will see the logic
behind my suggestion and will look at the problem compassionately. I
would also urge the people of Sangrur and Dhuri to stay calm as their
leader is with them.
