Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday flagged off 216 state-of-the-art machines including super suction-cum-jetting machines to give a push to the cleaning of sewage lines in seven districts ensuring better sanitation across cities.
Addressing the gathering at Ranbir College after the flagging off ceremony, the Chief Minister stated that these machines purchased at a cost of Rs 14.30 crore, will be deployed in seven districts including Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Malerkotla, Mansa, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib. He further announced that 730 additional machines have been procured at a cost of Rs 40 crore to improve sanitation facilities in various cities across the state.
The Chief Minister emphasized that these ultra-modern super suction-cum-jetting machines will significantly aid in cleaning sewage lines in urban areas. He highlighted that with the introduction of these machines, sanitation workers will no longer need to enter manholes manually as they will be trained to operate the equipments efficiently.
Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that these advanced machines will effectively address sewage-related issues bringing much-needed relief to city residents.The Chief Minister also stressed that the Punjab government is prioritizing the cleanliness of its cities and will soon equip all urban areas with such modern tools.
He acknowledged that the existing sanitation infrastructure has not kept pace with the growing population leading to sanitation challenges in larger cities. The Chief Minister assured that the government is committed to resolving these issues by providing new machinery and ensuring proper sanitation facilities across the state.
The Chief Minister announced that all obstacles hindering the establishment of a medical college in Sangrur have been resolved and the project will commence shortly. He revealed that certain individuals with vested interests had created impediments to the college's construction for personal gains, but these barriers have been successfully removed through government efforts.
He emphasized that the construction of the college will begin very soon and disclosed plans to establish three new medical colleges across the state. These institutions will enable local students to pursue medical education and serve in the healthcare sector within their own regions.
In a significant move to support youth empowerment, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of eight UPSC coaching centers in Punjab with one of these centers to be opened in Sangrur. Each center will be equipped with a library, hostel and other essential facilities to provide quality training for competitive examinations. Bhagwant Singh Mann stressed that these centers will ensure that Punjab's youth are well-prepared to excel in national-level exams.
The Chief Minister also lauded the success of the ‘PAHEL Project’ in Sangrur district, which is economically empowering women by enabling them to manufacture uniforms for government and private schools in villages. He highlighted that this initiative has brought significant financial benefits to women and announced plans to replicate this model across the state. The goal is to make women, particularly those in rural areas, financially self-reliant.
Marking the completion of one year of the Sadak Surakhiya Force, the Chief Minister highlighted its remarkable success in reducing road accident fatalities in the state. He informed that compared to the previous year, the mortality rate has decreased by 48.10 percent.
Punjab is the first state in the country to establish such a force and other states are now seeking guidance from Punjab to create similar initiatives.Prominent among those present at the event were Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh and MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj.