Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh releases Rs. 363.43 cr for development works of Jalandhar

Chandigarh, October 28: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced to grant of Rs 363.43 crore to Jalandhar for the implementation of various ongoing and new schemes in the city with an aim to have a whopping infrastructural development.

 

On this occasion, making a slew of announcements for Jalandhar, the Chief Minister said he had sanctioned Rs 50 crore for expediting the prestigious Smart City Project, along with new development works worth Rs. 42.43 crore. The new works related to the construction of streets and drains, as well as an installation of street lights in various parts of the city.

The Rs. 346 crore AMRUT scheme also received a shot in the arm, with the state government sanctioning Rs. 190 crore for the execution of several critical works under the same. The Chief Minister also unveiled a Rs. 81 crore grant for ongoing work and meeting of liabilities under the Urban Mission (PIDB).

The new projects under the AMRUT scheme relate to a strengthening of water supply system (Rs. 40 crore) and construction and upgradation of 100 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), at a cost of Rs. 150 crore. These initiatives would augment the state-wide development agenda on which the government had already embarked, the Chief Minister declared, pointing out that various welfare initiatives had already been kick-started in the city as part of this agenda.

Besides one-time settlement of property/house tax, the government has also announced one-time settlement of old arrears of water and sewerage charges. Captain Amarinder further disclosed that the work on the establishment of a Directorate of Fire Services at State Level had also begun in right earnest.

Reservation of 50% seats for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), as well as free of cost homes for homeless people and subsidized houses for economically weaker sections under the Shehri Awaas Yojna were some of the welfare initiatives undertaken by the government for the underprivileged sections of the society, he added.

Women’s reservation was a core agenda of the Congress party, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, at the national level and his government was implementing the same in Punjab, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister cited devolution of proprietary rights to old tenants on residential and commercial properties of municipal bodies as a significant step towards bringing in transparency in the systems, which had been completely destroyed under the erstwhile SAD-BJP regime.

The government, said Captain Amarinder, was committed to the holistic and inclusive development of the entire state. Jalandhar was of critical interest to the accomplishment of this goal and the government would continue to initiate new schemes to strengthen the infrastructure of the city, he added.

Captain Amarinder also promised that funds would also be made available for rural development in the area, which, like the rest of the state, had been ruined by the anti-people policies of the previous government. All possible steps for the welfare of the farmers and revival of industry were being taken, notwithstanding the economic crisis faced by the state, he concluded.