In a year that would be ever remembered across the globe for dreadful Covid-19 Virus, the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori was able to kindle a ray of hope, goodwill, development, and human touch to save the people from the scourge of this deadly virus. Fishing in the troubled waters, the district administration ensured that people do not fall prey to the virus and played a commendable role in imparting quality health services to the people, who suffered from Corona Virus. District administration's efforts to save people from the virus were hailed by one and all. Still, people also lauded how the entire team of district administration led by Deputy Commissioner remained on the forefront for people's well-being. Though some of the administration's key officers were also infected by the virus, they also relentlessly waged the battle against COVID-19 19 and ensured that people were saved from it. Striking a direct rapport with the people, the Deputy Commissioner interacted with them every week to make them aware of the COVID-19 pandemic and instil a sense of confidence and belongingness.In another significant move aimed at strengthening the healthcare infrastructure for ensuring quality treatment to serious COVID-19 patients, the Deputy Commissioner also made sure that Jalandhar Civil Hospital became the first government health facility in Punjab oxygen generation plant within the next three months. For speedy completion of the plant with 700-LPM capacity, the tenders worth Rs 88.20 lakh have been given to a Jalandhar based private firm which would have to complete the work by February last week, 2021. The generation plant would produce 700-LPM oxygen daily, which was equal to 225-230 cylinders. With the commissioning of the plant in the civil hospital, the supply of oxygen cylinders could be increased by the vendor to the other private hospitals as 225-230 cylinders used here, can be given to the other apprehensions of second COVID-19 wave.
Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar became the first and only district from the state to figure in the top five list of Prime Minister's Awards in the category of improving service delivery as Jalandhar was leading in Punjab for delivering public services in a stipulated timeframe set up by the government since July and has the lowest pendency rate hitherto. Under Mr Thori, the district administration during its course to kill the massive pendency evolved a mechanism to ensure the citizen's feedback besides monitoring the daily progress of the Sewa Kendras. This mammoth exercise to reduce pendency and implementing the services' time-bound delivery was initiated amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Thus, Jalandhar became the only district in Punjab, to become the only district in the state with minimum pendency.In another path-breaking initiative, the Deputy Commissioner ensured the up-gradation of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the local Leather Complex, to ensure proper treatment of effluents from the leather industry at the cost of Rs 24.67 crore. It was long pending demand of the district's Industrialists and the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had taken the historic decision for the state and industry welfare. The move would help strengthen the CETP on the one hand and reduce environmental pollution considerably by the industry on the others besides giving significant and much-awaited relief to the industry.The district administration also successfully kicked off developmental works worth Rs 663.41 crore in the district under Phase-II of Punjab Urban Environment Improvement Program embarked by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. These developmental works include the construction of Surface Water Source-Based Water Supply Project having 275-MLD Water Treatment Plant at Jagrawan village worth Rs 525.85 crore, construction of new 50-MLD STP and rehabilitation of existing 100-MLD STP in Pholriwal at the cost of Rs 69.72 crore, LED lights at Pan city worth Rs 43.83 crore and 203 developmental works worth Rs 24 crore in 12 Municipal councils in Jalandhar. These projects were the need of the hour for giving a fillip to the overall development of the Jalandhar.
Similarly, the administration under smart village campaign phase-II, kick-started 3201 development projects worth Rs. 149.21 Crore in Jalandhar' 106 villages aimed at ensuring holistic development of rural areas. In phase, I of the scheme, the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led state government had incurred worth Rs. 41.46 Crore by ensuring development projects in 96 villages of the Jalandhar, however, in the second phase as many as 3201 development projects including up-gradation of road infrastructure, streetlight systems, lying of new sewage lines, setting up of Thapar model ponds, interlocking tiles, sheds in cremation grounds, solid waste management, disposal of sewage waste, construction of Panchayat Ghars, new playgrounds, community centre, and many more have been initiated.Likewise, intending to augment primary health care services and infrastructure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has also dedicated 16 Health and Wellness centres (Tandarust Punjab Sehat Kendras) Jalandhar. These centres were operated by Community Health Officers and were offering treatment for various non-communicable diseases, including Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and others.The officers of district administration under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner also carried on regular field visits to get themselves acquainted to problems of people. People's difficulties were immediately redressed after the Deputy Commissioner and other top officers visited several places during the passing year. To ensure better functioning of government offices, the district administration also organized random checking in offices.The district administration also has a distinction of ensuring proper implementation of state government flagship programs like Smart Village Campaign, Punjab Urban Environment Improvement Program, Punjab Shehari Awaas Yojna, Guardians of Governance, Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana (MGSVY), Farmers' Debt Waiver Scheme and others.The concerted efforts on the part of district administration also yielded results as around five lakh metric ton of paddy. Around five lakh metric ton of wheat was procured in the district in a hassle-free and smooth manner. A foolproof mechanism was evolved this herculean exercise during which the Deputy Commissioner and other officers of district administration visited purchase centres in the district to ensure that no inconvenience was caused to farmers. Amidst, COVID-19 19 social distancing was maintained in the grain markets during the procurement of grains. A smooth purchase of grain grid marking of 30 by 30 feet has been made in the mandis in which every farmer would unload their produce so that social distancing was maintained.Similarly, as per the Captain government's initiative, the district administration has also dedicated 110 smart schools in the district. It was a move to promote digital literacy and online classes in Jalandhar. A total of 110 smart schools with facilities such as boundary walls, colourful furniture, projectors, laboratories, and playgrounds were created this year to continue the unhindered support to our future generations and their well-being. After all, the future would always be brighter than the challenges of today.