Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that a mega education city over an area of 1500 acre would soon come up at Mullanpura near Chandigarh to give further impetus to the quality higher education in the state.In his inaugural address on the third ‘Bhartiya Vigyan Sammelan (BVS) and Expo-2012’ to imbibe the scientific temper amongst our youth here at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in collaboration with Punjab Technical University and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), the Chief Minister said that the upcoming education city would house eminent world class educational institutions and universities in humanities, medical, pharmaceutical, engineering etc. to impart the start of art education to the students of our country as well as from other parts of the world. Appreciating the initiative of LPU, PTU and PSCST to hold this four day mega conference, Mr Badal said that it would go a long way in inculcating scientific and technical fervor amongst our youth through interaction with not only scientists, technocrats, academicians, policy makers, research scholars and students from “structured organizations,” but also with innovative farmers, technicians and artisans, on the topics relevant to global community in general and to Indian science and technology in particular. He said the this conference was dedicated to eminent mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan who is part of a rich Indian heritage of mathematics with other luminaries like Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara, Sankara who created and built upon the foundations of science as we know it today.The Chief Minister lauded the stupendous efforts of the management of the LPU team led by Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal in creating a huge infra structure at par excellence with any educational institute of international repute. He pointed out that this world class institute over an area of 600 acres was the outcome of sheer commitment and dedication to spread quality education to every nook and corner of the country.The Chief Minister assured that the state government would earnestly implement all the decisions for the betterment of higher education likely to be emerged on the basis of consensus from detailed deliberations in the BVS. Mr Badal said, “I am confident that the valuable inputs and suggestions given by the delegates to the Punjab Government would be seriously viewed in the formulation and implementation of the future plans/programs for the provision of safe drinking water, cleaning of ponds besides the treatment of industrial effluents effectively for the irrigation purposes”.The Chief Minister also mentioned that the SAD-BJP government during its previous regime had set up 17 new colleges besides nine universities to herald a new era of educational revolution. Mr Badal hoped that this conference would offer a healthy platform to the scientists and researchers in mitigating the problems like potable drinking water, health care and hygiene, depleting water table, air, water and vehicle pollution confronted by the people of the country in general and Punjab in particular. In his welcome address the Chancellor of LPU Mr Ashok Mittal expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his unstinted support in the creation of this India’s largest campus university with intake of 30000 students from 28 states and 26 countries across the globe. He assured Mr Badal that LPU would continue its endeavor to impart education of highest international standards to the students in future also. On the occasion the Vice chancellor of the PTU Dr Rajneesh Arora while proposing a vote of thanks hoped that this conference would offer a healthy platform to scientists, researchers and academicians to give their vital inputs to enhance the standard of scientific and technological education in the country. Later, during an informal interaction with the media persons, the Chief Minister said the former Lieutenant General KS Brar was issuing statements without having adequate knowledge about the ground realities of the state. Mr Badal said that how a person living within the four walls of his house in a far flung state and above all who has not even visited Punjab since long could comment on the scenario of the state. He said such statements could create a sense of insecurity and panic amongst the peace loving people of Punjab. The Chief Minister said that SAD-BJP government since its inception had been instrumental in maintaining the law and order in the state besides promoting peace, communal harmony, amity and brotherhood. Seeking support and co-operation from media, Mr Badal categorically urged the media to refrain from publishing/airing such sensational news content which could vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and jeopardize the hard earned peace in the state.Asked to comment on the apprehension expressed by Congress leadership on the possibility of revival of militancy in the state, the Chief Minister out-rightly rubbished these reports saying, Congress was habitual of racking up such issues out of frustration especially when they were out of power. He said Congress had always a destructive agenda to pursue while we have a constructive approach to ensure overall development of the state and welfare of its people. Blaming the Congress leadership for such irresponsible and inflammatory statements without having least concern for the state and its people, Mr Badal said that SAD-BJP alliance was committed to keep the social fabric of harmony, peace and brotherhood intact in the state and has successfully ensured peaceful atmosphere during its previous and as well as in present regime. To substantiate his claim the Chief Minister said even the clear mandate by the electorate during the last assembly elections in the favour of SAD-BJP reflected their unflinching trust and confidence reposed in our pro-people policies especially maintaining the communal harmony and peace on the top priority.Prominent among other who were present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Som Parkash and KD Bhandari, Mayor Sunil Jyoti, Principal Secretary Technical Education SS Channy, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Pro- Chancellor LPU Ms Rashmi Mittal and VC LPU Ramesh Kanwar.