In a bid to ensure supply of safe potable drinking water to residents of Patiala, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed the Municipal Corporation to initiate a comprehensive project of river rejuvenation to facilitate shifting to canal based water supply.The Chief Minister also asked the officials to expedite ongoing projects related to beautification of the walled city.Chairing a meeting to review the status of the city's development projects here at his official residence this evening, the Chief Minister expressed concern at the depleting ground water levels. Revival of Badi Nadi, Chotti Nadi and water bodies was imperative for fulfilling the future needs of the growing city population, he said.The Chief Minister also instructed the Deputy Commissioner to work out the modalities of the offer made by TATAs in this regard. Besides improving the ground water, the project would provide trunk sewerage in the city, and beautify the Choti and Badi Nadi by elevating the landscaping along their banks.Capt Amarinder also directed PIDB to speed up the process of construction of a new Bus Stand at the Sirhind by-pass. Taking stock of progress of the Patiala-Sirhind four-laning, the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor the progress to ensure timely completion of the project, which would bring major respite to the commuters.
Emphasising the need to de-congest the inner environs of the walled city, Captain Amarinder Singh stressed the need to improve the last mile connectivity within the city by aggressively by strengthening the existing e-rickshaw network.Regarding the development of Heritage street around Qila Mubarak, the Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure preservation of its original look and feel, and asked them to engage an expert consultant architect for the same. Reviewing the project of shifting of dairies to Ablowal Complex, Captain Amarinder Singh directed the officials to ensure hassle-free shifting process.Earlier, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Patiala apprised that more than 12 KMs of choked main sewer lines had been cleared of silt, giving relief to more than 25000 households covering 1.25 Lacs population in 70 Mohallas/Colonies in Patiala.More than 21,000 LED lights had been already installed within the municipal limits and the remaining 7,000 would be soon in place, Principal Secretary Local Government A Venu Prasad informed the meeting.Besides former Union Cabinet Minister Preneet Kaur, others present at the neeting included Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, MLA Samana Rajinder Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Housing Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary to CM Tejvir Singh, Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research Sanjay Kumar, Secretary Tourism Vikas Partap Singh, Principal Secretary PWD Hussan Lal, Deputy Commissioner Patiala Kumar Amit.