Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today announced that on completion of irrigation projects worth Rs. 164 crore in Malwa Cotton belt all the distributaries would get new facelift catering irrigation to 2.80 lakh acres of land.Announcing it a historic day for peasantry of Malwa, Mr. Badal said that the relining and rehabilitation of canals and distributaries in Bathinda, Mansa and Sangrur districts will give boost to the agriculture especially to farming of cotton and other cash crops. Speaking to media persons after laying the foundation stone of side lining of Bathinda branch at Canal Bridge Bathinda, the Deputy CM said that with the completion of these projects 55,000 acres land would also bring into the already existing 2.80 acres farming area under irrigation system. He said that the construction on these projects have been initiated and within two months the rehabilitation, renovation of channels Teona, Jodhpur Pakhar, Joga and Behman Distributaries, Kotla Branch, Saidewala Branch, Mandi and Bhunder Minors, Dhanola and Barnala Distributaries would be completed.
Answering a question, Mr. Badal said that waterlogging was the major suffering of farmers in Malwa belt and Punjab Government has chalked out an extensive plan to eradicate the problem of waterlogging and proposal of Rs. 3200 crore has already been sent to the Union Government. He said that Punjab Government endeavours to eradicate waterlogging problem at the earliest after getting approval from the Center. Badal also announced that an additional grant of Rs. 5 crore has been earmarked for development purposes in each Vidhan Sabha constituency of Punjab. He said that this initiative of Punjab CM would further accelerate the pace of development at ground level in the state. On a query regarding Delhi Elections,
Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal would contest these elections on the plank of inefficiency of incumbent government, corruption, price rise and inflated power bills to the consumers in National Capital. He said that time has come to oust Congress not only from Central political map but too from Delhi as Mrs. Sheila Dikshit Government had been indicted by the Lokayukta, Shunglu Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General for its wrong doings, which were enough proof for its complicity. He said that SAD leadership would launch a massive campaign in favour of its candidates and BJP contestants in few days.Later addressing a rally at Jodhpur Pakhar village President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that SAD-BJP government was sensitized to the problems of people at the grass root levels whereas the Congress never bothered about their genuine problems for the reasons best known to them. He said SAD-BJP alliance had drawn a roadmap to ensure overall development and prosperity in the state.He pointed out several path breaking initiatives have been taken by Punjab Government in the field of agriculture, power, infrastructure, education, health and Industry. Soon Punjab would emerge as a power surplus state in the country, added Mr. Sukhbir Badal. He said that the SAD-BJP government was the only state government in the country spending Rs.6,000 crore annually to provide free electricity to the Punjab's farmers that provides benefit of about Rs. 90,000 annually to each.Among others present on the occasion included Irrigation Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr. Darshan Singh Kotfatta, MLA, DIG Mr. Narinder Singh Dhillon.