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| PTI |
| Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Hussainiwala on Friday during a ceremony to unveil the new visitors' gallery where freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were cremated. |
Hussainiwala (Ferozepur) Oct. 22: Mr. P.Chidambaram, Union Home Minister today laid the foundation stone of Rs. 6.22 crore expanded viewers gallery at Joint Check Post to Hussainiwala to facilitate more and more tourists to visit this Indo – Pak border and witness the famous Retreat ceremony in which BSF Jawans and Pak rangers simultaneously lower the flags of their respective countries, ceremonially every evening.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal present on the occasion submitted a memorandum to Mr. Chidambaram seeking opening of Hussainiwala border on the pattern of Wagha Border to establish trade link with Pak besides also seeking special infrastructure and industrial package for rapid development of border belt.
Speaking on the occasion the Union Home Minister hoped for improvement of relations with Pakistan, in times to come and subsequent consolidation of trade links with the neighboring country. Reacting to the demand of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, the Union Home Minister hoped that “as things improve we could go more than half way to have better relations with Pak. Trade must resume with Pak. I sincerely hope it will come sooner than later”.The Union Home Minister conceded that people living in border “carry with them a special burden and responsibility” he said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister had been raising the problems of border villagers including problem faced by farmers in sowing on land beyond fencing and Union Home Ministry was addressing these issues. Reacting to the demand for extended working hours for farmers during summers, Mr. Chidambram asked DG BSF to go for new timing of 6 am to 6 pm instead of present timing of 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. He also asked DG to explore the possibility of providing power connection for tubewells installed beyond fencing.
Paying glorious tributes to martyrs Bhagat Singh , Sukhdev and Rajguru, the Union Home Minister described Hussainiwala as “Punya Bhoomi” sacred land. He said that he was delighted to lay the foundation stone of viewers gallery where Bhagat Singh , Rajguru and Sukhdev were cremated. He said that on this land Batukeshwar Dutt was also cremated in 1976 and Punjab Mata Vidyawati mother of Saheed Bhagat Singh was also cremated on this land. Mr. Chidambaram said that people and land of this area have suffered a lot and we have to rebuild and recreate. He said that much more needs to be done and we are proud of sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the freedom of our country.
Union Home Minister said that expended viewers gallery could accommodate 3000 viewers and whole area around gallery would be landscaped and beautified. He said that the new gallery would have modern canteen , toilets and children's park to attract more and more tourists in this area.
Earlier the Deputy Chief Minister sought Union Home Ministers intervention in opening Hussainiwala border for trade link with Pakistan, special central infrastructure package for upgrading schools colleges and roads in border area. Industrial package on the pattern of hill states to the border areas, linking Amritsar with Ferozepur with rail link and introduction of Ferozepur – Bathinda new daily Shatabadi. He also sought Mr. Chidambaram intervention in releasing compensation to the farmers @ Rs. 5000 per acre per year from the year 2002 onward, extended working hours for the farmers with land beyond fencing, release of Rs. 29 crore compensation for land acquired for 17 foot road along the fencing.
Before laying the foundation stone Mr. Chidambaram laid wreathes on the Samadhi of Bhagat Singh, Rajgur and Sukhdev. Later he took Guard of Honor form the full contingent of BSF on Zero line. Mr. Chidambaram handed over a basket of fruits and sweets to the Pak rangers stationed at the joint check post.
The Director General BSF Mr.Raman Srivastawa also spoke on the occasion. Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon , Irrigation Minister ; Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya MP ; Mr. Sukhpal Nannu Chief Parliamentary Secretary ; Mr. Gurtej Singh and Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi both MLAs and Mr. P.S.Gill DGP Punjab .
| Brief points for 22/10/2010 function at Hussainiwala Memorandum Ferozepur is land of warriors and martyrs. This area always faced the invaders and foreign attacks. In 1897, in battle of Saragarhi, the soldiers of this area shown their bravery and courage. We still pay our regards to all those soldiers on 12th September every year. In Indo-Pak wars of 1965 & 1971, this area remained unsafe and insecure due to its location but it always shown the killer instinct for enemy. The development of this fertile and prosperous area came to halt, when it found itself on international border after partition of India. Till 1971 war, the trade route was open at Hussainiwala and it played crucial role in development of Ferozepur town. Trade route from Hussainiwala can be re-opened on Wagha pattern. This will going to boost the development scenario of this area. Farmers having land across border fencing are facing great hardships due to time limit and restriction on movement of man and material. They were compensated for this during the year 1999-2000 by Rs. 2500/- per Acre. After this no amount was allotted by the Central Govt. but during the year 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2003-04, Punjab Govt. allotted Rs. 4.31 Crore every year from its own budget for the said purpose. It is demanded that the farmers of this 1200 Acre may be provided compensation of Rs. 5000/- per Acre per annum by Central Government. Land of some farmers has been used for providing 11 ft wide track along the international border. Compensation (29.47 crore for 4 border districts of Punjab) for this land may be paid to the farmers of the border area. Fence along international border is required to be shifted at 150 yards along international border. By this decision, the area between international border and fence will reduce and it will further reduce the problem of farmers in this area. Punjab is having long international border with Pakistan and this area along border is deprived of basic infrastructure facilities. It is demanded that "Infrastructure Development Package" for this border area be declared by Central Govt. to provide basic amenities of better Road Transport, Educational Institutions and Govt. Hospitals. Due to uncertainty of relationship with neighboring country, industrial development of this border area is not taking place. For development of this area, it is demanded that "Industrial Package" in shape of Incentives be declared by Govt. of India. Amritsar-Ferozepur rail link is crucial for strategic movements of Army and Para Military Forces and it will also for residents of this border area. It is demanded that Ferozepur and Amritsar be connected through Rail link. Survey report of Mallanwala-Patti rail link is showing positive rate of return for Railways. It is demanded that Central Govt. provides sanction of this project. |
