The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab as well as Haryana governments to inform the court about their comprehensive mobility plans for various municipal corporations and the funds allocated for various projects.
The special division bench comprising justices Surya Kant and Ajay Tewari made it clear that if the states fail to comply court orders their chief secretaries, finance secretaries and secretaries of urban development would have to remain present on the next date of hearing. The court was hearing a case pertaining to the introduction of eco-friendly cycle rickshaws and consideration of vehicle-free zones in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
Annoyed with repeated affidavits filed by both the state governments in the court without going into the details of the matter, the court said, “The impression given is as if you are obliging the high court. Whom are you be-fooling?”
In case of Punjab, the court observed that the state government had forwarded comprehensive mobility plans for four municipal corporations, including Amritsar and Jalandhar, to the Centre for seeking 80% financial assistance. But the court said that state government’s reply was not satisfactory.
It was directed that the Punjab government should come out with minute details of funds allocated for these corporations and how such budget should be spent in the financial year 2014-15 on various plans. The court also passed the same orders in case of Haryana.
Appearing in the case, road safety expert Navdeep Asija gave an example of the Sirsa city where due to initiative taken by the deputy commissioner, 90 eco-cabs or lightweight rickshaws had been introduced to ease out traffic to some extent.
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