Third-party audit of municipal works to start from next month

The local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said, the state government is going to start a third-party audit of financial works worth ₹10 crore in all the municipal corporations (MCs)and councils next month,on Saturday.

Sidhu said this on the sidelines of a private function here.

He said, “There is rampant corruption in the municipal corporations from last 10 years as the SAD-BJP did not conduct any audit of the development works, meant for the welfare of people.”

Local bodies minister said, “This is the reason not even a single municipal corporations has earned any profits.”

“A firm will carry out the audit to find lapses in these projects. The firm will start work in coming two weeks,” he said.

Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “The government has approved a policy to promote the tourism in Patiala, Kapurthala and other heritage places of the state. It will be implemented soon.”

Sidhu said, under the policy, religious, cultural and historical places across the state will be identified to transform these spots.

Reacting to a query about Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh refusing to take action against Bikram Singh Majithia without proofs, the local bodies minister said, “If anybody issues baseless statements against you in your own house, you have to react.”

“But action will be taken against Majithia. Let us give the issue some more time,”Sidhu said.

He said, “Majithia is the biggest stigma on the Shiromani Akali Dal.”

“Due to his sins, Akalis faced defeat in the elections. Also because of his sins, he managed to get only 15 seats during the elections,” the local bodies minister added.

There is rampant corruption in the civic bodies from last 10 years as the SADBJP did not conduct any audit of the development works. NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU, local bodies minister