PHAGWARA FLAG TAKEN OFF FOUR TIMES IN FIVE MONTHS

Hoisted with much fanfare in Phagwara, the national flag has become a costly affair for the municipal corporation (MC), which has to spend thousands of rupees on its repair every time it gets damaged due to high-speed wind and extreme weather conditions.

The MC had installed the Tricolour at the Phagwara Rest House in August 2015 and ever since it had to be taken off and repaired for about 12 times after it got damaged, including four times in the past five months.

Sources said the MC has to spend Rs 3000 to Rs 3500 on its repair and dry cleaning expenses every time.

On July 20, the MC had installed the flag after its repair. However, due to showers accompanied by heavy winds tore down the flag within two days and officials had to remove the flag again on July 23.

MC has purchased three flags till now at a cost of about Rs 1.80 lakh from a Mumbai-based firm. The civic body has again proposed to purchase two new flags at a cost of Rs 1.18 lakh. However, it will have to get approval from the House in its meeting, scheduled for next month.

“We have repaired the flag and it will be installed ahead of the Independence Day,” MC sub-divisional officer (SDO) MS Johal said.

CONG ALLEGES SCAM

Meanwhile, a Congress councillor said that though the MC officials claimed to have purchased superior quality flags at a cost of Rs 55, 000 each, it got damaged in a couple of days after its installation.

He said that the party had raised the matter in a House meeting, alleging a scam in purchase of flags, but no action was taken.

Kapurthala district Congress president Joginder Singh Mann said he would file a complaint with local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu against the MC in this regard.

MC assistant commissioner Surjit Singh said, “We cannot do much as the flag gets damaged due to wind and rains. We are planning to purchase two new flags of better quality.”