Taking the administrative reforms a step forward, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asserted that by July 2015, more than 249 citizen centric services would be provided online through 2,174 Sewa Kendras being set up in villages and towns and the residents need not have to visit any government office. Stating Punjab would be the first state in the country implementing online services Mr Badal assured that administrative reforms would be completed within next two years to provide hassle free services to the citizens.While speaking to media persons after the function of Muslim community held here today, Badal said that state has achieved status of having sufficient power and after sorting out coal problem Punjab will be the power surplus state in next year.Giving a major thrust to road infrastructure, Deputy Chief Minister said that a major revamp in this regard is on the cards and the work on it has already begun. "All major roads leading to major cities would be made four laned very soon," adding he said that special emphasis would be given on overall development of both urban and rural areas of the state.
The Deputy CM said that to keep a check on road accidents in the state, CCTV cameras would be installed on all major roads. "If any person breaks rules or indulges into over speeding or rash driving, his activities would be automatically recorded in the CCTV's and the challan would be mailed to his address. A proper plan in this regard would be launched very shortly," he said.Showing displeasure over the kind of work performed by the private company having contract of Solid Waste Management in Ludhiana, Sukhbir Singh Badal said that if the company fails to pull up its socks, the state government would cancel its contract."Under the Swachh Punjab" campaign, state has been pided into eight clusters, some of which such as Bathinda cluster are performing exceptionally well and many others have already started. The remaining clusters would start functioning shortly," assured the Deputy CM.
Terming the recent deaths of five children at Ludhiana's "Mother Child Hospital" very unfortunate, Mr Badal said that the Health Minister has already taken strict action against the erring staff. He also said that a vernacular daily published from Jalandhar had misreported a statement of Cabinet Minister Mr Tota Singh few days back. "The minister has already sent a notice to that vernacular daily today as they misreported the facts," he said.While addressing the function organised by Muslim community in Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Tibba Road, here today, the Deputy CM said that the members of Muslim community would be given due representation in all government boards and corporations. He also said that the Punjab government would nominate a member from Gujjar community as Director in Milkfed shortly. During the function, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal was also conferred with the title of "Fakhar-E-Punjab" by the Muslim community.Issuing a strict warning to those involved in drug trade, Mr Sukhbir Badal said that such people should mend their ways else they would be put behind bars.
"In the last two years, we have arrested more than 30,000 people who were directly involved in drug trade. "I want to make it very clear that ours is not a campaign or drive, but a war where no one would be spared. Punjab is suffering from this menace because it is main transit for drugs coming in from Pakistan," he said.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former DGP and former chairman Punjab Wakf Board Mr Mohd Izhar Alam, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Fatima Nisara Khatun, Ludhiana (East) MLA Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, SAD district presidents Mr Madan Lal Bagga and Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang, Director Information & Public Relations Punjab Mr Rahul Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner Mr Rajat Agarwal, DIG Ludhiana Range Mr G S Dhillon, Police Commissioner Mr Promod Ban.