The NRI hub of Punjab, Jalandhar is all set to realise total infrastructure rehabilitation by the end of 2014 with the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has approved a slew of projects worth thousands of crores for this heartland of Doaba region.Presiding over a high level meeting with the officials of various authorities of Jalandhar, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, accompanied by the Local Bodies Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, said that as Jalandhar having more than 10 lakh population of Punjab was the third largest city of the state, where 95% population has been covered under water supply system while 85 percent population was being covered under sewerage system. He said that Punjab Government has approved two tier sewerage project for the city under which in phase I Rs. 54.79 crore and in phase II 62.37 crore to be spent under this project. He said that out of the total cost Rs. 49.955 crore and Rs. 24.58 crore has been released respectively. The Deputy Chief Ministe said that to cover the 100% population with ultra modern treated sewerage network up to 2025 Rs. 235.86 crore has been sanctioned under National River Conservation Plan, out of which Rs. 52.48 crore as on June 30, 2013 has been released. He said that for 100% water supply coverage an amount of Rs. 14.86 crore has been sanctioned and the work of project was in full swing.
Reviewing the Solid Waste Management project ready to become operational in Jalandhar, the Deputy CM said that Jalandhar would soon witness door-to-door collection of garbage and under this program the garbage would be taken from bins to Solid Waste Treatment Plant in GPS enabled vehicles. He said that the work has been allotted to renowned firm of the country and the GPS enabled vehicles have been reached to the Municipal Corporation for the first phase beginning of the project. Briefing the process of collection, Mr. Badal said that the filed staff of the authorized company would collect the garbage in segregated manner more suitable for processing. He sadi that 75 wardwise dumping points have also been identified and the first phase of operation would be started in 6 wards in the third week of July in ward nos. 18, 29, 30, 31, 34 and 35.He said that a mobile application ‘cap me and track me’ is also being introduced, under which the system will generate alert automatically, if the bins was not cleared once in 12 hrs time. He said that to facilitate coordination between the residents and field staff a complaint redressal system will also be launched.
The Deputy CM also approved series of Road infrastructure and other development projects including food court 3G fish aquarium, redevelopment of Nehru Garden, Integrated Housing Slum Development Program. Approving 279 crore Roads redevelopment program Mr. Badal approved flyover at Basti Bawa Khel to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 38 crore, widening and strengthening of Hoshiarpur Road upto Lamba Pind (Rs 3.50 crore ), Widening of main approach from Urban Estate to Dairy Complex (Rs. 2 crore), widening of road from PAP Chowk to BSF chowk (Rs. 1.87 crore), restoration of water supply and sewerage trenches, reconstruction of roads Phase-II (Rs 80 crore), execution of development works from ward 1 to 60 (Rs 50 crore), 6 laning of old GT Road from Patel Chowk to Bidhipur Railway Crossing (Rs. 30 crore), road infrastructure of different wards (Rs. 24 crore), construction of ROB at Chuggitti Railway Crossing (Rs. 32 crore), construction of Townhall building (3 crore), lining of Kala Sanghian Drain (Rs. 14.64 crore) and total coverage of Jalandhar City for Storm Water Drainage System at the cost of Rs. 172 crore.Sukhbir also sanctioned for recarpetting of 12 major roads of the city. Asking Municipal Corporation to put the Rs. 48 crore project of Food Court cum 3G fish aquarium project on fast track Mr. Badal said that this project could develop as a major tourist attraction for Jalandhar city. Mr. Badal also approved redevelopment of Company Bagh at the cost of Rs. 3.84 crore. Focusing on rehabilitating slum dwellers of 26 slums, Mr. Badal asked MC to expedite construction of 3676 slum tenements and hand over the keys to them within one year. It was decided to handover all public toilets to Shulabh Toilets.
The residents of Jalandhar would get a breather from traffic chaos with Sukhbir approving Rs. 47 crore for construction of Chandan Nagar Railway Over Bridge that would facilitate the movement of ten lakh population living near Brij Nagar. Sukhbir also approved Rs. 12.47 crore project for construction of 445 tenements for slum dwellers. A modern slaughter house and a dog pond to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 17 crore at Kapurthala Road was also approved in the meeting
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Mr. Krishan Dev Bhandari, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Pargat Singh, MLA, Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Local Government, Mr. Paramjit Singh Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan, both Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM, Mr. Priyank Bharti, Director Local Bodies and Mr. Vinay Bublani, Commissioner MC Jalandhar and other senior officials of various department.