"A separate Fire Directorate would come up in order to provide better fire services to the urban population of the state." This was disclosed by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, S. Navjot Singh Sidhu during the question hour on second day of the second budget session while replying to a query posed by the MLA (Sunam) Mr. Aman Arora.The minister said that Fire and Ambulance are the 2 essential services which must be provided quickly without losing anytime but the previous regime didn't paid any attention towards this vital aspect. He further said that Punjab has 195 fire vehicles for 54 fire stations out of which 114 vehicles are outdated. On the issue raised by the MLA regarding Sunam having no fire station, the minister said that the previous dispensation totally neglected this sector. The minister also divulged that the Union Government gave a grant worth Rs. 90 crore for fire services out of which only Rs. 17 crore were spent and that too for small vehicles. The rest was resumed due to non-spending. He also disclosed that the current government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh would turn the weaknesses left by the previous government into own strengths.
Mr. Sidhu also revealed that till now, there is no vehicle for fire services equipped with hitech ladder although hordes of multi-storey structures have come up in the cities barring one at Mohali. He assured the house that the department would purchase the ultra modern vehicles for all the fire stations and a Fire Prevention Act would also be enacted by the department.Replying to a question posed by the MLA Mr. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa regarding illegal encroachments on water works land at Abohar, Mr. Sidhu admitted that some people have encroached on the above mentioned land. On the issue of any action against encroachers and their names, the minister disclosed that in 1961, 9.25 acres of land was acquired to increase the capacity of the water works built in 1931 at Abohar and the people from whom the land was acquired were given adequate compensation at that time. The record pertaining to this is secured in record room at Ferozepur. After the formation of SAD-BJP government in 2007, some SAD leaders tampered with the government record and got some portion registered in their names. The then Deputy Commissioner without checking the record ordered the demarcation to facilitate the illegal encroachment/occupation of this land worth crores by these people. Not only this but these people also encroached upon the next khasra number outside the ambit of registry.
Mr. Sidhu further said that the registries are in the names of Paramjit Singh alias Lali Badal (Uncle of Ex-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal), Gurdit Singh, Mahinder Pratap, Ram Dayal, Varinder Pal Singh and Ashok Kumar. Agreeing with the demand of the MLA, Mr. Sidhu demanded from the Chief Minister a thorough probe against illegal encroachers by vigilance and stringent action against the guilty. Then the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced the probe in the matter.Interacting with the media-persons after the conclusion of day's session, Mr. Sidhu lashing out at the akalis said that the SAD leaders due to the scams committed during their regime cannot face the public outside the assembly while inside they are resorting to walk-out tactics without any reason. He also said that the ex-Deputy CM knew that in assembly today he would have to face the question of illegal encroachment by his relative of water works land at Abohar, that explains why he (Ex-Deputy CM) knowingly remained absent.