‘Bathinda admn not clearing R24 lakh bill for govt events’
BATHINDA: The owner of a private taxi firm, ‘Bathinda Tours and Travels’, has claimed that the local administration is not clearing dues of Rs 24 lakh for using SUVs he provided during state government events, mainly sangat darshan programmes of the previous Badal government.
The owner, Pirthi Ram Bansal claimed that Rs 13 lakh is yet to be paid to the firm for providing taxis during sangat darshan programs of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal for the period between May 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
He added another Rs 1.4 lakh is pending for taxis he provided for ferrying officials deployed in the security of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the town in January. According to him, Rs 9.5 lakh is yet to be paid for providing taxis during the foundation stone laying ceremony of AIIMS in the district in November 2016.
“Sometimes, I hired taxis from other firms to meet the requirement by paying out of my own pocket. The total outstanding is Rs 24 lakh,” he claimed, adding that he had provided his services after written communication from the district administration.
“I have filed a plea for clearing of my dues at the websites of the PMO website, but to no avail,” he claimed, adding that the administration had cited lack of funds as reason to deny his repeated requests.
When contacted, deputy commissioner Diprava Lakra said, “The process to clear his bill is on.”