Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has showered his bounty on people who had lost their illegal kiosks in the raging fire at Janata Rehri Market in Phase 3B1 here on June 1, 2007.

If the allotment of concrete booths in lieu of the wiped out khokhas was not enough, the CM, who is also the chairman of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), has asked a price of mere Rs 3.42 lakh for each booth.

On September 24, the GMADA had allotted 369 booths through a draw of lots, according to eligibility established during a survey conducted in 1998. Ever since, the allottees have been awaiting the possession of booths as the GMADA was yet to finalise the rate for the booths.

Turning down the proposal of the GMADA to enhance the rate as per the present prices, the CM asked to charge the rate fixed in 2006 keeping in view the fact that the case was old, GMADA Chief Administrator (CA) Vivek Partap Singh told Newsline.

He said 130 booths, which were already constructed, will be allotted at Rs 3.42 lakh each while the cost of actual construction with the cost of land as per old rates will be charged from the allottees of the remaining 239 booths.

GMADA has also earmarked a site behind the petrol pump in Phase 3-A to shift the remaining 239 kiosks till their booths come up in Phase 3B1.

“Arrangements for drinking water and cleanliness have been made besides demarcating the area at an alternate site,” said Singh.

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