Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated several multi-crore development projects in the Faridkot Assembly constituency. He was accompanied by Faridkot MLA S. Gurdit Singh Sekhon.
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated the newly constructed single-span steel bridges over the Rajasthan Feeder Canal on Talwandi Road, Faridkot and over the Sirhind Feeder Canal on the Faridkot-Kotkapura Road. He said that these bridges, constructed on two of the city's major arterial roads, have been built using modern engineering technology.
The earlier bridges at these locations were nearly 60 years old and had become inadequate to handle the increasing volume of traffic, he added. He informed that the new bridges have a carriageway width of 7.5 metres along with 1.2-metre-wide pedestrian pathways on both sides.
Constructed at a total cost of Rs.38.16 crore, these bridges have significantly eased traffic congestion in Faridkot city and adjoining areas while providing safer and more efficient connectivity to commuters, said the Cabinet Minister. Thereafter, the Cabinet Minister inaugurated a canal outlet at village Hasan Bhatti and lined watercourses constructed for 21 canal outlets across the Faridkot Assembly constituency.
Addressing the gathering, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working to strengthen the state's irrigation infrastructure and safeguard the interests of farmers. He said that the construction of lined watercourses in the constituency has ensured efficient utilisation of canal water and will greatly benefit the farming community.
He informed that under 21 development works, a total of 34.50 kilometres of lined watercourses have been constructed in the constituency at a cost of nearly Rs.11.90 crore. These projects will directly benefit 780 acres of agricultural land.
The lined watercourses will prevent water losses and ensure faster and more efficient delivery of canal water to fields, enabling farmers to access improved irrigation facilities. Sh. Goyal also inaugurated an underground pipeline project completed under the NABARD scheme at a cost of Rs.96.16 lakh.
He said that the project has further strengthened the irrigation network by ensuring efficient and timely availability of water to farmers. He added that the Punjab Government is consistently implementing such initiatives to promote water conservation and make agriculture more productive and sustainable.
Faridkot MLA S. Gurdit Singh Sekhon expressed gratitude to the Cabinet Minister Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal for dedicating major development projects to the constituency. He said that these irrigation and infrastructure projects would prove highly beneficial for farmers and the general public.
He added that projects worth over Rs.50 crore have been dedicated to the people, ensuring improved irrigation facilities for villages across the constituency and enhanced road connectivity through the newly constructed bridges. He further said that by increasing the water carrying capacity of canals, distributaries and minors, the Punjab Government is ensuring a greater supply of irrigation water to farmers than ever before. He affirmed that such development initiatives will continue in the future.