Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Responds to Nitin Gadkari on Attacks in Jalandhar and Ludhiana
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 13: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has addressed Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s concerns regarding recent attacks on engineers and contractors in Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Mann assured that the local police have arrested the accused in both cases.
According to Mann, the first incident was due to over-excavation of land by the NHAI contractor, while the second incident stemmed from non-payment of financial dues by the contractor to its sub-contractor. Mann stated, “In both the cases referred to by you, the local Police promptly registered the FIRs under relevant provisions of law. Further, in both these cases, arrests have been made. However, on the investigation, it has been found that one incident was the outcome of the over-excavation of land by the NHAI concessionaire/contractor. The second incident was the outcome of non-payment of financial dues by the concessionaire/contractor to its sub-contractor. Thus, both cases stemmed from causes attributable to the concessionaire/contractor.”
Mann also included a detailed report from the special DGP (Law & Order) and emphasized that the Punjab Police are committed to ensuring the safety of NHAI staff. Local police have been instructed to deploy patrolling teams to maintain law and order.
Earlier, on August 10, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote to CM Mann about the attacks, urging immediate corrective measures. Gadkari highlighted that the incidents involved severe assaults and threats to engineers and project camps. He stressed the need for strong action to restore confidence among NHAI officers and staff.
Gadkari warned that if the situation does not improve, NHAI might have to cancel or terminate eight other projects, totaling 293 km and costing 14,288 crore, due to ongoing issues related to land acquisition and law and order conditions.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab CM -: Punjab CM stands for Punjab Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in the state of Punjab.
Bhagwant Mann -: Bhagwant Mann is the current Chief Minister of Punjab. He is a politician from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is the Union Transport Minister of India. He is responsible for roads, highways, and transport across the country.
Jalandhar and Ludhiana -: Jalandhar and Ludhiana are cities in the state of Punjab, India. They are known for their industries and cultural heritage.
engineers and contractors -: Engineers and contractors are people who design, build, and manage construction projects like roads and buildings.
over-excavation -: Over-excavation means digging too much soil or earth, which can cause problems like landslides or damage to nearby structures.
non-payment issues -: Non-payment issues happen when people or companies do not get paid for their work, which can lead to disputes and conflicts.
NHAI -: NHAI stands for National Highways Authority of India. It is an organization that builds and maintains highways in India.
cancel or terminate projects -: Cancel or terminate projects means stopping the work on a project before it is finished, usually because of problems or issues.
