CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab Minister from Shiromani Akali Dal Sucha Singh Langah today said that a news item in many of the leading papers was not based on facts and also casted doubts over utilization grants released by some Ministers of the Punjab Government to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur.
Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, Sucha Singh Langah said that the border area in the State of Punjab suffers from lack of basic infrastructure particularly relating to education and technical education.
He said that in order to set up educational institutions for imparting quality and cheaper education a society by the name of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur, District Gurdaspur was got registered with the Registrar of Firms and Societies, Chandigarh.
The society has 11 founder members which include Sucha Singh Langah, Rattan Singh Langah, Harbhajan Kaur (brother and wife of Sucha Singh Langah respectively). There are also 8 other independent founding members of the Society.
The Society is running following 4 educational institutions :
1. Guru Arjun Dev Management and Technology College, Dhariwal : imparting B.Sc., B.C.A. and M.Sc. course in I.T. and was set up in 2010 with affiliation of Punjab Technical University. 100 students are studying in this college.
2. Guru Arjun Dev Polytechnic College, Dhariwal: was started in 2010 for imparting engineering education and is recognised by AICTE and Punjab State Technical and Industrial Training Board. 300 students are enrolled in thie college.
3.Indian Heritage Public School, Dhariwal : was started in 2008 and is recognised by CBSE. 462 students are studying in this school.
4.Guru Arjun Dev Nursing College, Dhariwal : was set up in 2007 imparting education in B.Sc., Post B.Sc. and A.N.M. Nursing courses. Recognised by Punjab Nursing Registration Council and Indian Nursing Council. Two batches of 67 students have passed out and 180 students are presently studying in the college.
Langah said that the infrastructure of above 4 colleges which includes buildings, furniture, laboratories, library etc. have been created out of the funds of the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College Society. The Society receives its income from donations given by public (duly acknowledge with receipt) bank loans, fee from the students as prescribed by the Government and Government grants. The Society has taken a loan worth Rs.1.5 Cr which is a major source for creating of infrastructure of these 4 institutes. The Society has constructed building covering 93000 sq/ft in these 4 institutes.
He said that the Society received grants from five ministers namely Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Surjit Jiani and 2 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Sher Singh Ghubaya and Sohan Singh Thandal amounting to Rs.38 lakhs. These grants were deposited into the account maintained by the Society with Punjab National Bank, Dhariwal, as and when received.
Out of these 7 grants 5 grants amounting to 23 lakhs were received for construction of rooms/buildings and 2 grants (15 lacs) for setting up of laboratories. These grants of 23 lakhs was used for constructed 11000 sq/ft area which otherwise costed 66 lacs to the Society. Out of 15 lakhs received for setting up of laboratories 5 lakhs for setting up of computer lab and 10 lakh for setting up of electrical lab and electronics lab.
These grants were duly reflected in the balance sheets and the accounts have been audited by a certified Chartered Accountant. These grants have also been reflected in the Income Tax Returns filed by the Society with the Income Tax Department.
In addition to above, the Society has received 48 lakhs of Government grants in favour of Guru Arjun Dev College of Nursing for setting up of library, buildings and laboratories.
These grants as stated above have been duly utilized for construction of buildings and setting up of laboratories for the above mentioned colleges and schools. The physical infrastructure was created with crores of rupees which includes 1.5 crore of bank loan and these grants in addition to donations do exist at Fateh Nangal in Dhariwal which can be verified by any time.
Langah said that another doubt has been raised that these grants cannot be used for construction is also incorrect as para 6 of the instructions provides for usage of these grants for any purpose. The Society has its registered office at Haqimpur Road, Kalanaur, Distt. Gurdaspur. It has also been incorrectly reported that Gurdaspur Improvement Trust allotted land measuring about 1 acre to the Society on reserve price. The Society purchased this plot through an open and transparent auction held by the Gurdaspur Improvement Trust for a price of Rs.40 lakhs against the reserve price of Rs.17.25 lakhs. This auction has also been upheld by the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court.
He said that he was also taking recourse to appropriate legal action after consulting his legal team in this regard.
