CHANDIGARE, India: Justice Venkatramia Commission report has awarded an area of 70 thousand acres to be given to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh but the Commission has not identified these areas and has suggested that a new Commission should be appointed to select the areas or it should be done through mutual consultation, The report of Commission has also suggested that the Centre should construct a new capital for Haryana and if the cost the new capital goes beyond 200 crore rupees the Centre may recover the excess of the Central Government expenditure four the sale proceeds of land in the capital project area, The Haryana Government in its Cabinet meeting accepted the recommendation of the Commission. The meeting noted that the transfer of the areas would be done simultaneously along with handing over Chandigarh to Punjab. The Cabinet authorized the Chief Minister to negotiate with Punjab about the areas to be given to Haryana. On the finance of the construction of the new capital the state cabinet also wanted to construct the most modern capital suiting the 21st century. On the security of the employees of Haryana, the cabinet felt that it could be ensured only if the law and order including the police and administration in the entire city of Chandigarh continue as the special responsibility of the Central Government through the Governor of Punjab. The cabinet also urged the Central Government to take over immediately the construction of Sutlej-Yuma link Canal project in Punjab territory so that work can be completed at the earliest possible. It is learnt that modalities for the identification and the transfer of the 70 thousand acres of land to Haryana on June 21st simultaneously with the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab were being worked out at the top level, but the Punjab Cabinet on the other hand virtually rejected the recommendations of the Vanketramia Commission but its spokesman said that the Centre should implement its declared its decision to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab on June 2lst, The state cabinet which met at Chandigarh on June 13 called upon the Centre to review the ‘Commission’s report in the light of its terms of reference and set down the portion not consistent with the terms of reference so that the decision to transfer. Chandigarh to Punjab was implemented. The Cabinet plans to record its deep sense of anguish over the Commission’s recommendation which was unwarranted by reference and its terms of reference and the letter and spirit of Rajiv-Longowal A cord, In view of the great significance of the issue involved, it decided to summon an emergency session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on June 17 so that the elected representatives of the people of Punjab be afforded an opportunity to consider and discuss the report and its various implications. A though the Cabinet resolution was forthright and strong Chief Minister Sunjit Singh Barnala refrained from criticizing the recommendations of the commission publically. The Finance Minister of Punjab, Mr. Balwant Singh, in Delhi, even welcomed the decision of the Commission saying that Punjab would not lose anything even if it agrees to transfer 70,000 acres of land to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh Punjab Government is believed to have taken exception to the report on following major counts:
- The unit entity of Chandigarh spreads over 114 square kilometers while the Commission recommended the transfer of 282 square km. to Haryana,
- The recommendations that village’s to be transferred to Haryana need not be necessarily Hindi speaking, according to a Punjab, official is against the spirit of the Accord
- The reference to the Central Barnala’s Bid to.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 20, 1986
