Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government was committed for ensuring free and fair poll during the upcoming by-election of the Dasuya Assembly segment to be held on July 11. Talking to the media persons after presiding over the “Ajit Haryaaval Lehar’ function organized by the Ajit Group of newspapers here today, the Chief Minister said that the state Congress leadership was unnecessarily making a hue and cry over the interference of state government in the by-election whereas there was no truth in it as it was the bounden duty of the Punjab government to ensure that the elections are carried out in a peaceful and free manner. Replying a query regarding the demand of Punjab Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh to deploy Para military forces in Dasuya, he said that they had no objection regarding the demand raised by the state Congress leaders, however he said that was hardly any need for it. Badal said that the state Congress leadership was habitual of seeking Para military forces for elections for the sake of getting publicity. He reminded the Congress leadership that they were badly trounced by the people of Punjab in assembly elections held early this year even when Para military forces were deployed here just because SAD-BJP government had ensured free and fair poll. Condemning the recent proposal of the Union Government to impose tax on the funds or help sent by the NRIs in the state, the Chief Minister said that it was an anti-people decision which would adversely impact the development of the state. Badal said that he would soon raise the matter with the Union government for scraping this decision. When asked about the allegations of Congress leaders that he had deliberately prompted Congress legislature Mohammed Sadique to sing in state assembly, the Chief Minister said the Congress leaders were needlessly raking up this issue and criticizing him rather they should have prevented Sadique from singing in the august house. Earlier addressing the massive gathering at the venue of the function, the Chief Minister said that the pollution was the biggest challenge faced by the people of the state in the recent times adding that the state government was committed for wiping out the air and water pollution from the state. He said that in order to reduce the air pollution in the state the government had already joined hands with the Punjab Agriculture University and Forest Reserves of India (FRI) to ensure that 5 crore saplings are panted every year in the state. Regarding the allocation of funds for ambitious “Greening Punjab Campaign” recently started by the Punjab Government, the Chief Minister said that “Sky was limit” for generating funds for this pious cause. Badal reiterated that there was no shortage of funds for this purpose adding that the state government would leave no stone unturned to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free. The Chief Minister also said that in order to ensure zero discharge of sludge water in the rivers of the state the state Government would ensure that every city of Punjab is provided facility of water supply and sewerage along with the Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) in coming two years so that the sewage water could be properly treated. He said that apart from it the state government was also making endeavors to ensure that the treated sewage water or the industrial waste do not goes into the rivers and is used for irrigational or domestic purposes both in villages and towns respectively. Badal said that the state government was mulling a large number of techniques which were being used for the same purpose across the globe and it would be finalized after due deliberations.In the same manner the Chief Minister also said that as per the commitment of state government to provide clean and potable drinking water to the residents of the state they have urged the Union Government to provide them with new techniques for purifying the water supplied through the tube wells or through canal based schemes because a heavy concentration of Uranium, arsenic and other heavy metals have been traced in the water. Exhorting the people to support the campaign for making the state green and clean, the Chief Minister said that on its part the government was already making efforts on war footing but the active co-operation of the people is required to make this movement a public movement.Listing the other priorities of the state government he said that the SAD-BJP government has already made efforts to revitalize the education system of the state, the results of which were visible on fore. Badal further said that now special thrust was being laid by them on providing technical education to the unemployed youth of the state so that they could be made capable of earning their livelihood. The Chief Minister said due to the concerted efforts made by the state government in providing technical education to the youngsters, in the coming months more than 5 lakh youth across the state would be able generating their livelihood. Likewise he said that the state government would soon be opening the recruitment of Para medical staff and technicians in the departments of the state government to provide job opportunities to the youngsters.The Chief Minister lauded the role played by the Managing Editor of the Ajit Newspaper Group Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard in creating awareness regarding ‘Tree plantation’ amongst the people by initiating the “Ajit Haryaaval Lehar” about an year ago. He said that under leadership of Dr Hamdard the Ajit group which had planted 5 lakh trees last year have now set a target of planting 10 lakh trees, which was double than the number of trees planted by them last year. Assuring all possible help to the campaign by the state, the Chief Minister said that he had already passed on the necessary directions to the officers for the same purpose.Welcoming the Chief Minister at the function, the Managing Editor of Ajit Group of Newspapers Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard appreciated the role played by SAD-BJP alliance government under the stewardship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in initiating “Greening Punjab Campaign” which would go a long way in generating awareness amongst the people about the importance of trees. Expressing gratitude to Badal for encouraging them with constant help and support, Dr Hamdard said that the initiatives taken by the Punjab Government would provide much needed relief to the state from the menace of pollution. Dr Hamdard vowed that from now onwards under “Ajit Haryaaval Lehar” the Ajit Group of Newspapers would involve all the sections of society for making the movement to plant more trees in the state a mass movement.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Financial Commissioner Forests DS Bains, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Kamal Sharma besides several other dignitaries.