Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced the establishment of Sri Anandpur Sahib Development Authority to execute development plans in the light of the 550th Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in November this year.Laying the foundation stone of Changer Lift Area Scheme with a view to improving the socio-economic status of the region by providing lift irrigation, the Chief Minister said the project would be completed in nine phases and the process for the first phase had been initiated. Recalling his pre-assembly poll visit to the area, the Chief Minister said that he had promised at that time to initiate lift irrigation project to facilitate residents and farmers. He said this scheme would cater to the water needs of 80 villages, of which four had been chosen for the first phase.The entire project would be completed in three years at a cost of Rs. 9.52 crores, said the Chief Minister, adding that the scheme would prove a boon for this region facing acute water scarcity. Acceding to the demand of Speaker Rana KP Singh, the Chief Minister announced that Sri Anandpur Sahib Development Authority would be formed to chalk out and execute the development plans in a systematic and planned manner. He said that this Development Authority would be established on the pattern of Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority.Captain Amarinder also announced Rs 26 crore for providing potable drinking water in the villages of Sri Anandpur Sahib so that the residents of the area do not have to go far to get drinking water. He said the villages of Nurpur Bedi area would also be provided funds to make potable water available in these areas.Referring to the need for holistic development of Kandi area, Captain Amarinder said that Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar had raised the issue of repair of Garhshankar-Sri Anandpur Sahib Road, which would be undertaken soon. He said that he had directed the PWD Minister in this regard and the project would be completed at a cost of Rs. 7 crore. The Chief Minister further said a Special Development Plan would be chalked out for Sri Kiratpur Sahib in view of the 400-years function to be held in 2026, besides construction of a bridge between Kiratpur Bus Stand and Market, and the work on this would be started soon.
Announcing Rs 15 crore as untied funds for three constituencies of Rupnagar District under local area development, the Chief Minister also said that a separate fund to the tune of Rs 2 crore would be given to Sri Anandpur Sahib Municipal Council for development purposes, besides Rs 2 crore for Nangal Municipal Council. He also announced a fund of Rs 50 lakh for Kiratpur Sahib, Rs 1.5 crore for Ropar, Rs 50 lakh for Chamkaur Sahib and Rs 1.5 crore for Morinda. The Chief Minister announced a separate grant for the Rural areas of Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar and Sri Anandpur Sahib respectively at Rs. 4 Rs 3 and Rs 6 crore, for the holistic development of these areas.Captain Amarinder announced that Rs 11 crore would be spent on the construction of a memorial, park and beautification of Chamkaur Sahib in memory of ‘Vadde Sahibzadas’, the elder sons of Tenth Guru Gobind Singh ji, which was overlooked by the previous SAD-BJP Government for the last 10 years.Addressing the gathering, Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi lambasted the Akalis for playing with the sentiments of farmers during their decade long regime. He said that Captain Amarinder had fulfilled his pre-poll promise of farmers debt waiver. The Minister said that Punjab would emerge as Skill Capital of the country once the Skill University is set up at Chamkaur Sahib.Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Rana KP Singh also lashed out at the Akalis for their failure on all fronts. He said that the people of Kandi area had always played a great role in protecting the borders and had also fought valiantly against terrorism.He also thanked the Punjab Government for initiating Rs 250 crore Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Government, which was in doldrums for the last 30 years. The speaker urged the Chief Minister to bring some major industrial units in the Kandi so that the problem of unemployment in the area could be resolved.Earlier, after landing at Sri Anandpur Sahib, the Chief Minister also paid obeisance at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, where Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh offered him a Siropa. The Chief Minister went around Virasat-E-Khalsa Museum depicting 500 years of glorious Sikh history.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion were Media Advisor to CM Raveen Thukral, District Congress Unit President Barinder Singh Dhillon, former MLA Lov Kumar Goldy, Principal Secretary Irrigation Sarvjit Singh, Secretary Cooperation Vikas Garg, Secretary Agriculture Kahan Singh Pannu and Commissioner Rupnagar Division R.K. Kaushik.