Chandigarh: The Punjab government seems to be in a mood to deal with the issue of eviction of Latifpura ahead of the announcement of the Jalandhar bypoll.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had convened a high-level meeting yesterday evening to resolve the issue of Latifpura, which was also attended by officials of Jalandhar district.
It may be recalled that the Municipal Improvement Trust Jalandhar had run a bulldozer on the houses in Latifpura, due to which these families have been forced to live in tents on the streets for several weeks.
The struggle for justice for the Latifpura demolition continues by various organizations. Most of these families are those who migrated from Pakistan at the time of partition. The Punjab government had not shown much seriousness in resolving the issue earlier, but the Municipal Improvement Trust Jalandhar had made some efforts.
Now that Jalandhar by-election is likely to be held in the coming weeks, the Punjab government does not want to delay the matter too much.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is upset with the Jalandhar administration for not handling the issue on time.
The Chief Minister said that arrangements should be made immediately for the rehabilitation of the poor families displaced from Latifpura. Such people should be identified that those who have no means of living anywhere.
The Punjab government is also thinking of allotting flats of the Municipal Improvement Trust to the poor families as well as Rs 2 lakh each per family under rehabilitation.
It may be recalled that the CM has not yet held any direct meeting with the displaced families of Lafitpura or the committee fighting for them.