In August 2008, the state government had imposed a ban on any type of construction and issuance of power and water supply connections besides ration cards in Nada and Karoran villages under Nayagaon NAC limits, which were listed as forest areas.

The ‘draconian order’, as the locals called it, came soon after the government had issued a draft of Master Plan-2021 for the planned growth and development of Nayagaon municipal areas.

Though the Nayagaon masterplan was approved by the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board (PTPDB), headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in December, the prohibitory order issued by then Mohali Deputy Commissioner remained in place.

Addressing a public rally in Nayagaon on Wednesday, the CM announced the withdrawal of the ban on water and power supply connections besides ration cards. He, however, kept mum over the prohibition on constructions.

Badal declared that a decision to this effect was taken in principle at a Cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh on Tuesday evening, where the restrictions of the Forest department to prohibit such facilities was overruled. “It is really ironical that Nayagaon residents, who live in close proximity to Chandigarh, had been deprived of basic civic amenities like drinking water, electricity and sewerage,” said Badal, while directing the forest authorities not to interfere in the development of the area under the guise of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA).