LUDHIANA: The Union Minister of State for Defence, Sports and Youth Affairs Jitender Singh today assured a delegation of Badhowal residents that he would look into their demands regarding freeze on the repairs of their houses falling near the Field Ammunition Depot there.

A delegation of the residents of Badhowal accompanied by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who is also the local MP, met Jitender Singh who was here in connection with the inauguration of the National Youth Festival. Tewari told the minister that the residents were facing lot of harassment as there was total freeze on the construction activity around the ammunition depot. Tewari said, he understood the sensitivity of the issue since it concerned important ammunition dump, at the same time he urged the MOS for Defence to take a considerate view on the issue. He said, at least the residents should be allowed to have repairs of their houses wherever needed and necessary.

The matter, minister said, was pending in the court. However, he was told that it was getting delayed since the defence ministry had been seeking frequent adjournments leading to delay in the decision. The MOS Defence assured the delegation that he would examine the matter and would ensure that whatever is possible is done at the earliest.

District Congress Committee Ludhiana Urban Pawan Dewan, former Minister Punjab Malkit Singh Dakha, Housefed’s ex-chairman K.K Bawa, Vicky Jassal, Rajinder Singh, Bakshish Singh, Major Singh, Amarjit Singh, Gobinder Singh, Dr. Sadhu Singh were also present on the occasion.