Rana Sodhi hands over memorandum to Union Defence Minister for redressing grievances of cantonment area residents

Ferozepur, August 13:

The Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Punjab, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi handed over a memorandum regarding the redressal of the grievances of the people living in the border area to the Union Defence Minister Mrs Nirmala Sitaraman during her visit to the Hussainiwala.

Disclosing this, Rana Sodhi said that in the memorandum handed over to the Union Defence Minister, he had demanded that the compensation amount to the farmers having land outside the barbed wire fence in border area should be increased to Rs. 20000. Besides this, the army should issue 'No-Objection' certificate to farmers to provide electrical connections to them who spend money on diesel in order to operate the tube-wells for better maintenance of their crops. The ownership rights should be given to the poor farmers who cultivate the land outside the barbed wire fence.

Divulging more, Rana Sodhi said that he also apprised the Union Minister regarding the problems being faced by the people of the cantonment area. The permission should be granted to repair the buildings in the cantonment area which are in dilapidated condition. The transfer of property should be allowed so as to make the people avail benefits such as house loans. The old law of the erstwhile British era should be abolished as per which a foreigner can buy property but the Indian has to take permission in case the value of the property is exceeding Rs. 5000. The Cantonment Act, 2006 must be suitably amended so as to ensure that there is no interference of the army in the civil area. The lease of the properties which have expired must be renewed and the policy for making these freeholds should be made. The public representatives must be involved while making the land policy.

Rana Sodhi said that the Union Defence Minister has given the positive response to the demands raised by him. The Defence Minister while on one hand agreed in principle to issue 'No Objection' certificates for providing electrical connection and on the other also assured to consider other demands.