Addressing the long-pending issue of safe drinking water for residents of Khanauri town in the Lehra constituency, Cabinet Minister Advocate Barinder Kumar Goyal today gifted the people of Khanauri a major development project by laying the foundation stone of a Water Purification Plant (Water Works) to be constructed at a cost of Rs 18.13 crore. Under this project, canal water will be purified and supplied for drinking purposes.
On this occasion, the residents of Khanauri warmly welcomed and thanked Barinder Kumar Goyal, stating that by resolving the issue of safe drinking water, he had given the town a significant and much-needed gift. Addressing a large public gathering, Minister Goyal said that the Lehra constituency is like his own family, and therefore carrying out development works and standing by the people in their joys and sorrows is not a favour, but his responsibility.
Goyal said that the Water Treatment Plant would be completed within the stipulated timeframe and that the residents of Khanauri would soon start receiving clean drinking water. He emphasized that any negligence or corruption in the project would not be tolerated. A large water tank with a storage capacity of 0.50 lakh gallons will also be constructed at the plant to ensure an uninterrupted water supply.
He further said that while new water works are being established in different villages of the constituency, RO systems are also being installed to provide clean drinking water, and non-functional RO plants are being repaired. The Punjab Government has approved new projects worth Rs 315 crore to strengthen drinking water infrastructure and improve the supply system.
In many parts of Punjab, especially in the Malwa region, underground water is not fit for drinking. Therefore, under the Surface Water Project, the government is supplying treated canal water to households instead of relying on tube wells. With assistance from the World Bank, large-scale treatment plants worth crores of rupees are being installed in various towns and cities.
Speaking about the achievements and welfare schemes of the Punjab Government, he said that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, 600 units of free electricity have been provided to every family, over 65,000 unemployed youth have been given government jobs, and from July onwards, women from the general category will start receiving Rs 1,000 per month, while Dalit women will receive Rs 1,500 per month. He termed these historic initiatives of the Punjab Government.
Taking on the opposition, he said that they have no work other than criticizing the government. He added that the opposition cannot tolerate Punjab’s development, prosperity, and peace, and that the people will reject them outright.
On this occasion, Block President and Truck Union President Birbhan Kansal (Khanauri Mandi), Block President Vishal Kansal, Sanjay Singla, former President of Nagar Panchayat Khanauri Girdhari Lal, Councillor Jeeti Numberdar, Surinder Karonda, Anil Kumar, Raj Kumar Chatha, Ashok Kumar Thekedar, departmental officials, OSD Rakesh Kumar Gupta (Vicky), along with other leaders and volunteers, were also present.