Punjab CM sets up panel on Sukhna Lake demolitions

Asserting that his government would take all legislative and judicial remedies to protect interests of the people, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered the constitution of a committee to evolve a strategy in the light of the High Court order relating to constructions in the Sukhna Lake area.

It was not viable to displace the tens of thousands of people living in the constructions around the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, said the Chief Minister, while chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the issue.

The Chief Minister asked Advocate General (AG) Atul Nanda to coordinate with his Haryana counterpart to ensure a formidable defence in response to the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to demolish the constructions in the Sukhna Lake area.

Amarinder Singh also directed the Chief Secretary to designate nodal officers from Forests and Local Government Departments to assist the AG's office to prepare the state's response in the court, said an official spokesperson after the meeting.

The spokesperson said the committee set up by the Chief Minister will be headed by Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, besides MP Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari, MLAs Parminder Singh Pinki, Fatehjung Singh Bajwa, Kanwar Sandhu and Amandeep Singh as members.

The committee has been mandated to evolve a consensus strategy in consultation with the AG's office to decide the future course of action, through the formulation of a multi-pronged strategy involving all stakeholders including the state of Haryana. IANS