Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Tuesday inaugurated a significant infrastructure project by laying the foundation stone for the repair work of four major roads in Moga district. These roads, spanning over 76 kilometers, are poised to enhance connectivity and contribute to the overall development of the area.
The repair work, estimated at Rs 45 crore, will directly benefit the people of more than 100 villages who rely on these crucial roadways.Addressing the brief events held at villages Samadh Bhai, Jalalabad, Dharamkot and Moga, Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the repair work has been started on Moga to Samadh Bhai Bypass, Kot Ise Khan to Galib Kalan, Dharamkot to Jogewala Road, Moga Bypass to Moga Harike Road, which will be completed in three months.
“According to the rules, these roads should have been built 5 years ago, but no attention was paid to this aspect by the previous governments. Now with the construction of these roads, the long pending demand of the people has been fulfilled”, said the PWD Minister while adding that the maintenance of these roads will also be done by the same contractor for the next 5 years.
Later, addressing the press conference held in Moga, the PWD Minister further highlighted the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government to infrastructure development and efficient governance.
He said that the expansion of the district administrative complex will provide enhanced facilities for administrative functions and public services, and Rs. 11 crores have been sanctioned for this work. He said that apart from this, 3 new 66 KV grids have been given to district Moga.
Talking about the Power situation in the state, he said that when the AAP government came to power, the PSPCL was in a loss of Rs 1880 crore, which has been brought out of this loss to a profit of Rs 564 crore. He said that the Punjab government's Pashwara coal mine was closed for the last 9 years, which the AAP government has restarted in December 2022.
This has benefited the PSPCL to the tune of Rs 1200 crore. With the operation of this mine, the state always has an extra stock of 40 days of coal. New Solar agreements are being signed by the Punjab government, and the state will become a power surplus soon.
The previous governments bought power from the private sector at Rs 18 per unit, but the AAP government has bought power at Rs 2.33 per unit. Apart from this, Punjab is the first state in the country to purchase private-sector thermal plant, he added.
Mr. ETO assured that the development works in the state will not be allowed to stop even though the Center has withheld Rs 5500 crore of the rural development fund (RDF). He said that once this fund is released the development works will be further accelerated.
On this occasion, Dr. Amandeep Kaur Arora, Mr. Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Mr. Amritpal Singh Sukhanand and Mr. Devinderjit Singh Ladi Dhons (all MLAs) also addressed the gatherings and thanked the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government for boosting development works in their area.
Mr. Harmandeep Singh Brar, Chairman District Planning Board, Mr. Deepak Arora, Chairman Nagar Improvement Trust Moga, Mr. Baljit Singh Chani, Mayor Municipal Corporation Moga, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Anita Darshi, Chairman Harjinder Singh Rode were also present on this occasion.