Patiala, January 26: Augmenting his government’s efforts to ensure the holistic development of the state and to harness its optimum tourism potential, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday digitally kicked-off a slew of development projects, worth Rs.213.37 crore, as a gift to the residents of Patiala heritage city on the 72nd Republic Day.
These projects include project for rejuvenation of Badi Nadi & Chhoti Nadi, being implemented by Patiala Urban Planning and Development Authority, at a cost of Rs. 208.33 crore, besides revival of historic Rajindra Lake at Rs.5.04 crore.
According to a spokesperson of Chief Minister’s Office, the rejuvenation project of Badi & Chotti Nadi, which commenced on October 22, 2020, would be completed within 24 months. The work has been allotted to PSSC-GECPL (JV), with allotment amount of Rs.165 crore. The project is being jointly executed by Patiala Urban Planning and Development Authority, Water Resources Department and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board. The total length of Badi Nadi stretch is 8.65 km, starting from Daulatpura Bridge near focal point. Two STPs (Sewerage Treatment Plant) of 15 MLD and 26 MLD & CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant) of 2.5 MLD will be constructed on Badi Nadi to treat the sewer.
The total length of Chotti Nadi is 4.50 km, originating near Patiala railway station with outfall in Badi Nadi near Deer Park. Concrete lining will be done and walkways & cycle tracks will be constructed within the right of way of the Nadi. The campus lighting will be done through a stretch of the Nadi. Work has already started near Tafazalpura drain.
The re-sectioning of both Badi and Chotti Nadi would be done by developing them as a twin trapezoidal section to increase their discharge carrying capacity with a return period of 1 in 50 years. S lines would be laid along the banks of both Badi and Chotti Nadi to capture sewer outfalls for carrying sewage to STP and then discharging clean treated water back into the Badi and Chotti Nadi for recharging of underground water. A permanent water body will be created by constructing weirs at suitable intervals. This will remove un-hygienic conditions prevalent along the Nadis and prevent spread of , thus promoting an eco-friendly environment.
Later, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Member Parliament from Patiala, Preneet Kaur, dedicated to the people of Patiala the newly rejuvenated historic lake, built in 1885 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in the memory of his father, Maharaja Rajinder Singh. The Chief Minister took personal initiative in releasing funds under OUVGL to the tune of Rs.5.04 crore through Housing & Urban Development department. The project has been executed by PWD (B&R), Electrical and Drainage department.
Meanwhile, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit apprised the Chief Minister about the works undertaken during rejuvenation, including beautification. He further said supply of clean water has been ensured from the Bhakra main line by installing regulation gate near railway crossing no. 21, on the underground pipe that was earlier laid to supply water for the sacred sarovers of Gurdwara Sri Dukh Niwaran Sahib and Sri Moti Bagh Sahib.
Earlier, the Chief Minister, in his address, highlighted his government’s major achievements and initiatives to propel Punjab into the orbit of higher growth trajectory.
He said that his government has decided to install statues of Bhagwan Parshuram Ji in Ludhiana, Maharaja Agarsain Ji in Bathinda, pioneer of Gadhar movement Baba Sohan Singh Bakhna in Amritsar and legendary freedom fighter Baba Maharaj Singh in his native village.
Under the Ghar Ghar Rozgar te Karobaar Mission, nearly 17 lakh youth have been facilitated since March 2017 and now the state government has fixed a target of 10 lakh more youth to be facilitated for jobs during the current year including one lakh Government Jobs and three lakh Private Jobs besides five lakh to be assisted in various Self Employment ventures.
On the welfare of all sections of the society, the Chief Minister said that Government of India’s apathy to stop the SC scholarship scheme, thereby putting the future of SC students in jeopardy, led the state government to start its own SC scholarship scheme which further forced the Centre to revise its decision. To empower women, the state government has granted 30% reservation to them in government jobs. Apart from this, the government is also supplying subsidized ration to 1.41 crore persons across the state under National Food Security Act, and now an additional 9 lakh persons are also being provided with ration from state government funds. Under BASERA, over 1 lakh slum dwellers would be conferred upon the proprietary rights in the state.
Nearly 4200 Guardians of Governance are keeping a close watch on the development activities in the state to enhance transparency and accountability so as to ensure the fruits of the development schemes reach genuine beneficiaries.
On the school education front, the Chief Minister said that Punjab’s Government Schools have outperformed Private Schools in the Class 10 and Class 12 Board results consecutively for 2 years. He also referred to the two world class institutions of higher learning viz. PLAKSHA University and Amity University, which are coming up at Mohali. Apart from this, Nursery classes have commenced in 12,921 government schools across the State and 2.50 lakh children have already been enrolled. More than 7842 Smart Schools have been opened and English has been introduced as a medium of instruction introduced in over 6000 Govt Schools, with more than 1.46 Lakh students opting for the same.
Highlighting the initiatives for conservation of environment, the Chief Minister said that 77 lakh saplings were planted during the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, with 550 saplings planted in each village/Municipal committee. Likewise, 60 lakh saplings have been planted across the state as a part of 400th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji, with 400 saplings being planted in each village/municipal committee. The state’s Forest cover has also been increased by 11,363 Hectares since April 2017 and Mission “Tandrust Punjab” is being revamped to make it far more effective, he added.
