Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today constituted a joint monitoring committee to ensure timely implementation of lift irrigation schemes in the Kandi region of Rupnagar, Nawanshehar, Hoshiarpur and SAS Nagar (Mohali) districts.A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while presiding over a high level meeting specially convened on the request of Member Parliament from Anandpur Sahib Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra here at Chief Minister’s residence this morning. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the CMO said that the committee would comprise Financial Commissioner Development, Secretary Irrigation and Secretary Power to finalize the modalities for the prompt implementation of lift irrigation project in the Kandi and mountainous region in order to mitigate the hardships of the people living there who were facing acute scarcity of irrigation water due to scanty rainfall there.
Responding to another issue of wild animals causing extensive damage to the standing crops in the Kandi region, the Chief Minister asked the Forest department to prepare a time bound action plan to save the people from this scourge. The Chief Minister also asked the Financial Commissioner Forests to study the feasibility of fencing around the fields to prevent the entry of wild animals/stray cattle. He also asked Prof. Chandumajra to pursue the case for seeking special funds to tackle the menace of wild animals from Centre on the pattern of assistance already given to Himachal Pradesh, adding he said that he would also personally take up this matter with the Ministry of Forests, GoI.On another issue to explore untapped tourism potential in the background of the scenic beauty of Sri Anandpur Sahib, the Chief Minister asked the Tourism department to study the proposal of establishing a world class level amusement park at village Agampur besides exploring the possibility of water sports across the entire stretch of river Satluj from Nangal up to Rupnagar head works. Mr. Badal said that probably Punjab was the only state which had abundant area under rivers but unfortunately we could not harness the tourism potential optimally.He asked the Tourism department to engage the services of reputed international consultants in tourism to develop water sports in this area.
The Chief Minister also gave a go ahead for the 4-laning of Banga-Garhshankar-Sri Anandpur Sahib Nawanshehar-Garhshankar roads to cope up with the heavy vehicular traffic especially in the season of fairs and festivals like Holla Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib and Navratras in Naina Devi. He asked the PWD Department to complete the 4-laning of these roads on the priority.To further tap the irrigation potential in the Kandi region, the Chief Minister also asked the Irrigation department to submit a comprehensive proposal for the construction of already identified 44 check dams in Hoshiarpur district so as to ensure there completion in a stipulated time schedule.
Referring to the hardships faced by the residents of Mohali, the Chief Minister also okayed the proposal mooted by Prof. Chandumajra to introduce the city bus service thereby linking Mohali with Chandigarh and Panchkula especially Nadha Sahib. Mr. Badal also asked the Chief Administrator GMADA to develop the village Madanpura for providing basic civic amenities to its residents besides constructing green belt. Mr. Badal also directed the GMADA to chalk out a detailed plan for the provision of basic civic amenities especially the roads in the newly carved out sector 76 to 80 on the priority adding he directed both the GMADA and Municipal Corporation to work out a joint strategy in this regard.
Meanwhile, the CA GMADA apprised the Chief Minister the development work of Rs.68 crore had been put on hold due to the pending case in the Supreme Court regarding the chunk of 102 acre of land in these sectors. He assured the Chief Minister that they would soon resolve this issue in consultation with the Municipal Corporation.Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included MP Anandpur Sahib Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ch.Nand Lal, MLA Garhshankar Mr. Surinder Singh Bulerathan, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Forests Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Chief Principal Conservator of Forests Mr. MP Rai, Special Principal Secretaries of CM Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Dr. SK Raju, Chief Soil Conservator Dr.Balwinder Singh Sidhu besides the Deputy Commissioner of Rupnagar, Mohali, Nawanshahar and Hoshiarpur.