Encroacher of Milkfed land may go scot-free

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 3

Despite knowing that around 10.5-acre agricultural land of Milkfed at Kolianwali village in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Lambi Assembly segment is being allegedly cultivated for the past about seven years by some influential person without obtaining any permission, neither the Milkfed authorities nor the state Vigilance Bureau have initiated any action against the encroacher so far.

The matter was highlighted by The Tribune on April 27, but the authorities concerned continue to remain mute spectators.

The issue came to light when Milkfed announced to hold an on-the-spot auction to lease out that land on April 24.

However, the authorities suspended the auction at the last moment without giving any reason.

Rupinder Sekhon, General Manager, Milkfed, Bathinda, said, “The auction to lease out that land will now be held on May 12. I can’t comment any further on the issue.”

Manjit Singh Brar, Managing Director, Milkfed, said, “We are looking into the matter through an internal probe.”

Sources in the Vigilance Bureau said they were yet to start a probe in that regard. “The issue has come to our notice, but we are yet to get approval from the higher authorities to probe the matter,” said Makhan Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Vigilance, Muktsar.