Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora today inaugurated two newly constructed tubewells in Sunam, built at a cost of approximately Rs 84 lakh. On the occasion, he said that the Punjab Government's primary objective is to provide better basic civic amenities to the people, and with this vision, continuous efforts are being made to ensure a permanent solution to the city's drinking water supply issues.
The Cabinet Minister said that these two tubewells were installed after identifying areas of Sunam that had been facing persistent water shortages for a long time. He informed that one tubewell will ensure an adequate water supply to Patiala Road, Tarksheel Park, Moranwali and the areas surrounding Maharaja Palace, while the second tubewell benefits the thousands of residents living in the nearby areas Cinema Road and adjoining localities.
He said that the project is not merely about installing new tubewells but also represents a significant step towards strengthening the city's overall water supply infrastructure. He added that wherever water supply issues are identified, additional projects will be undertaken as required.
Speaking about the city's roads, the Cabinet Minister said that all locations requiring road repairs, construction of new roads, installation of interlocking tiles and other development works have already been identified. He added that while the ongoing monsoon season may temporarily delay some works, all development projects will be executed on a war footing as soon as weather conditions become favourable.
Addressing the issue of waterlogging in the underbridge, Aman Arora said that technical shortcomings during the construction of the old underbridge under previous governments had resulted in the accumulation of rainwater during the monsoon. He informed that senior engineers from the Sewerage Board and the Public Works Department are holding regular meetings to work out a permanent solution.
He further stated that the newly constructed underbridge has been designed to prevent rainwater from entering, and even if water accumulates under exceptional circumstances, an adequate pumping system has been installed to ensure its immediate removal. He said that he does not believe in making false promises to the people. Any solution, he added, will be implemented only after due consultation with technical experts and with long-term planning in mind.
Replying to a query regarding Sunam's Master Plan, Aman Arora said that officials of the Housing and Industries Departments have already been directed to initiate the process of preparing Master Plans for both Sunam and Dhuri. He said that while the exercise is technical and time-consuming, the government is pursuing it on a priority basis to ensure planned and sustainable urban development in the years ahead.
The Cabinet Minister reiterated that the Punjab Government remains fully committed to the holistic development of Sunam and that development works will continue in accordance with the needs of the people, ensuring that every citizen has access to improved civic amenities. Officials from various departments, prominent citizens and a large number of local residents were present on the occasion.