Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced development projects to the tune of Rs 2140 crore for Jalandhar and Shahkot, as a gesture of gratitude to the people for ensuring the Congress candidate’s landslide victory in the Shahkot bypoll, which he said had laid the foundation for an anti-Modi wave across the country.Addressing a thanksgiving rally at the local grain market here, the Chief Minister said the Congress was indebted to the voters of the Shahkot assembly segment, who had ensured a sweeping victory for the party’s candidate, Hardev Singh Laddi, to secure 2/3rd majority for Congress Party in the Punjab Assembly.On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced June 28, 2018, as a gazetted holiday in the state on Kabir jayanti.The Chief Minister complimented the Congress workers and leaders for making concerted efforts to ensure the party’s victory, pointing out that it was for the first time in 52 years that such a huge victory margin had been reported on the seat. It was now the duty of the state government to work more zealously for the all-round development of the state, besides fulfilling each and every promise made to the people of Shahkot in the run-up to the by-poll.The Chief Minister announced a slew of infrastructure and other development projects, and asked MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh and Hardev Singh Laddi to submit a detailed proposal of projects for Shahkot so that the funds, as needed, could be released at the earliest.While work on 4-laning of Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur, up to Himachal border (NH-70) had already started at a total cost of Rs. 1069 crore, another Rs. 1000 crore had been allocated for 4-laning of Jalandhar Bye-Pass linking NH-70 and NH-71 from Jandhu Singha to Pratappura via Jamsher, said the Chief Minister, adding that the DPR for the latter was under preparation by NHAI and work on it would start this year.
Other infrastructural development projects announced by the Chief Minister included construction of ROB on Chougeti-Ladhewali Road (Rs.35 Crore), with tenders having been called for appointment of a Technical Consultant, besides widening and strengthening of Jalandhar-Jandiala-Nurmahal-Talwan Road (Rs.17 Crore), on which work had commenced.The Chief Minister assured the people that funds would not be allowed to hamper the development of Shahkot, which had witnessed no progress under the Akali regime. The projects announced today were just the beginning of the advancement of the region and its people, he added.Underlining his government’s commitment to strengthening school infrastructure in Shahkot, the Chief Minister announced allocation of Rs. 7 crore for establishment of three Smart Schools and 32 Digital Class Rooms. Captain Amarinder Singh announced an equal amount for free medicines and free lab tests (55) as a step towards strengthening the health infrastructure in the region.An amount of Rs.25 lakh had been sanctioned for strengthening of Primary Health Centre Mehatpur for providing Maternal & Child Health services, the Chief Minister further announced.Reiterating his government’s commitment to providing safe drinking water to the people, Captain Amarinder Singh announced bifurcation of the existing water supply schemes to provide separate water supply schemes for various villages. These included Malsian & Lakshian villages (Rs. 136 Lakh), Akalpur (Rs. 95 Lakh), Nangal Ambian (Rs. 61 Lakh), Rerwan & Nawan Pind Aklian (Rs. 58 Lakh), Moolewal Brahmanan (Rs. 55 Lakh), Kakkar Kalan (Rs. 48 Lakh), Hazipur & Salaichan (Rs. 48 Lakh), Manakpur (Rs. 41 Lakh), Billi Baraich (Rs. 35 Lakh), Jaffarpur (Rs. 29 Lakh) and Mianwal Araian (Rs. 28 Lakh).
In his address, Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar, Chaudhary Santokh Singh sought special attention for the Doaba region. He expressed the hope that under the dynamic and far sighted leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab would emerge as the country’s foremost state.Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal congratulated the voters of Shahkot for showing the door to Shiromani Akali Dal for their long misrule, which was like Amarbel - a parasite plant, that ruined the state in general and Shahkot in particular. She also slammed SAD for ruining the state economically, socially, politically and even religiously. Punjab, she added, was now back on right track due to the steps taken by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.Former Minister and MLA Rana Gurjit Singh sought a special package for the Doaba region, urging the Chief Minister to get the Bist Doab canal concrete lining project worth Rs. 150 crore completed to facilitate the farming community, and to save the depleting ground water. Rana Gurjit Singh also demanded setting up of a Medical College in the Doaba region to impart quality health services to the people.Earlier, MLA Hardev Singh Laddi assured the Chief Minister that he would make all-out efforts for the development of the constituency and the welfare of people. He demanded setting up of a potato processing unit near Malsian to boost the interests of the potato farmers.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion were Chairman Markfed Amarjit Singh Samra, MLAs including Ramanjit Singh Sikki, Harminder Singh Gill, Sushil Kumar Rinku, Gurpreet Singh GP, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Dr. Dharamvir Agnihotri and Chaudhary Surinder Singh, former Ministers Joginder Singh Mann and Malkit Singh Dakha, CM’s Secretary (Political) Captain Sandeep Sandhu, former MLA Mr Jagbir Singh Brar, Congress leader Tejinder Singh Bittu and Satwinder Bitti, OSD to Chief Minister Gurpreet Singh Sonu Dhesi, President of District Congress Committee Daljeet Singh Ahluwalia, President of District Youth Congress Ashwin Bhalla and others.