Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that in order to provide potable drinking water under a scheme of World Bank to the villages falling in Waterlogged, Kandi or Border areas of the state besides those villages having more than 40% Schedule Caste population, the state government has lowered down the economic contribution given by the villagers for constructing water works in their village.
Talking to the media persons here today on the last day of his thanks giving tour of the Lambi Assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that under the scheme of World Bank in order to construct water works for getting portable drinking water every family belonging to the General category has to contribute Rs 800 whereas every Schedule Caste (SC) family has to contribute Rs 400.However he said that now in a path breaking initiative the state government has decided that in the villages falling in Waterlogged, Kandi or Border areas of the state besides those villages having more than 40% Schedule Caste population now the families belonging to General category would contribute Rs 400 whereas those belonging to the SC community would contribute Rs 200 only. Mr. Badal said that this step of the state government would be a big relief to the people as it would not only assist them economically but would also help them in getting portable drinking water. The Chief Minister reiterated that owing to the commitment of Punjab Government to provide portable drinking water to all the villages across the state, the installation of RO System along with the water works in all the villages would be completed by the year 2014. Mr Badal said that in order to help the people suffering from critical ailments like Cancer, Heart disease and others the teams of Health Department would be conducting village level surveys and according to the report submitted by the health department, the state government would provide befitting assistance to these patients. He reiterated that the state government has already constituted a corpus fund of Rs 20 crore for helping the patients of Cancer under which a patient is given a financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh for his treatment by the state government. He said that government would also provide similar type of assistance to the patients of other critical ailments.Replying to another query the Chief Minister said that in order to provide 100% civic amenities to the residents of the urban areas the state government has constituted State Urban Development Mission, which would form a comprehensive plan for the all round development of the cities in coming three years. He said that under the plan the residents of urban areas would be provided the facilities of water supply, sewerage, Sewerage Treatment Plant, Street Lights and Roads. Likewise he said that the slums in urban areas would be replaced with permanent houses for the urban poor residing in them. "This mission will give the necessary directions for the all round development of the cities from time to time" he added.Exhorting the workers of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for serving the people of the state in better manner, the Chief Minister said that by electing the SAD-BJP alliance for second consecutive term the wise people of state have bestowed a great honor to them due to which their responsibilities have increased manifolds. So he said that the need of the hour is that all of them should work untiringly to fulfill the aspirations of the people.
Earlier the Chief Minister inaugurated a water work constructed at cost of Rs 1.17 crore in village Dabwali Malko Ki. During his thanks giving tour of Lambi assembly segment, the Chief Minister addressed the public gatherings at village Dabwali Malko Ki, Kangan Khera, Kolianwali, Dhani Barki, Sham Khera, Mahni Khera, Bhai Ka Kera, Baloch Kera, Kutianwali, Phul Khera and Arniwala Waziraa.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KJS Cheema and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) Member Jathedar Dayal Singh Kolianwali.