Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal has said that blue print of Rs 40000 crore smart villages project is ready for the overall development of villages in the state. Mr. Badal said that this project includes concrete streets, solar lights and other infrastructure development projects which will be completed in coming five years.While addressing a gathering at grant distribution function for the development works at village Rode in District Moga, Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that smart villages project would be launched from Rode village which will have all ultra modern facilities under the smart village project. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that SAD-BJP will go into the public with the agenda of development and form government for the third consecutive term.
Touching the developmental aspect, S. Badal said that apart from making Punjab a power surplus state, the road network has also been fully strengthened and transformed. Detailing other development and welfare centric measures, he said that Free power to farmers, Free health insurance scheme, Free power to the tune of 200 units to SC/BC families, Shagan scheme, Pension scheme, Free bicycles to school girls, Distribution of sports and gym kits in the villages, Free atta-dal scheme began only when a government under the leadership of S. Parkash Singh Badal was formed in the state. Taking on Congress, he said that Captain Amarinder Singh cannot spell out even a single development oriented measure during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2002-2007. In a dig at the Congress, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Congress did nothing except doing patchwork on roads.
Disclosing more, he said that in October the free medicine and skill centers would be operationalised and also that every year nearly 1 lakh youth would be imparted skill development training to enhance their employability. Branding Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as anti-Punjab, S. Badal said that these parties are deliberately defaming Punjab.Earlier Mr. Badal disbursed grant of Rs 10 Crore for cemented streets, Rs 5 Crore for Sewage project, Rs 70 lakh for stadium, grant for widening of road. He also announced to upgrade primary school of the village rode to middle and open branch of co-operative society in village Rode. Others prominent present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Jathedar Tota Singh, MLA S. Maheshinder Singh Grewal, MLA Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike, MLA Joginder Pal Jain, District President S. Tirath Singh Mahla, Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Vaid & SSP Snehdeep Sharma.