Fazilka, July 1: Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that peeved over the alarming situation of the polluted water being supplied to the residents of the state, the Punjab government has decided to get a comprehensive survey conducted across the state to check the quality of water.
Addressing the gathering here today in a state level function to launch the “Greening Punjab Campaign”, the Chief Minister said that under this survey each and every sample of water being supplied in the households whether through tube wells or canal based schemes would be tested for checking its quality so that potable drinking water could be made available to the residents of the state. Mr Badal said that he had directed the officers of the state government to get the survey completed within three months and submit the report regarding it so that necessary action could be taken on it.
Reiterating the commitment of the SAD-BJP alliance government to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free, the Chief Minister exhorted the people to join hands with them for wiping out air and water pollution from the state through massive plantation drive. He said that a comprehensive plantation drive in the state was the need of the hour as only could check the environmental degrading taking place in the state due to the pollution. He said that though the government had made all out efforts to check the rising environmental pollution in the state but the desired result of all the endeavors of the government could be obtained only with the help of the people. He assured the people that within coming two years the state government would fully check the pollution of rivers in the state adding that the “Greening Punjab Campaign” would check the air pollution thus making Punjab clean, green and pollution free.
The Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that due to deforestation the forest cover in the state has gone down to 7 % of the total area of the state whereas according to the norms of the Government of India (GoI) it must be more then 33%. However he said that the state government would ensure that the area under forest cover in the state is enhanced to 15% in coming years for which use of the latest technology would be ensured. Emphahzing the need for making “Greening Punjab Campaign” a public movement, Mr Badal said that with such a movement only the spread of grave diseases like that of Cancer, Asthma, Diabetes and others caused due to environmental pollution could be checked.
Giving the slogan of ‘Each one, plant one’ the Chief Minister said that all the government departments, NGOs and religious bodies besides every individual needs to play a proactive role for checking the environmental degradation in the state by planting large number of trees. Mr Badal also said that besides planting the trees everybody must ensure that they are maintained for at least three years.
On the issue of the non starting on train between Abohar and Fazilka despite of the completion of all the work, the Chief Minister said that for the facilitation of people he had got this project sanctioned from the then NDA Government at Centre. However he said that unfortunately the present Union government was delaying the starting of train due to their own vested interests. Slamming the Congress led UPA government, Mr Badal said non starting of train from Fazilka to Abohar was the testimony of the fact that the Union government have always meted out ‘step motherly’ treatment with Punjab.
Advocating special incentives from the border areas of the state, the Chief Minister said that the brave residents of these areas have always suffered for the nation’s because so they must be compensated by giving special care and attention. He said that understanding this the SAD-BJP government alliance have started a special cadre of teachers of border areas which would not only give recruitment exclusively to the youngsters of these areas but would also improve the level of education in them. However Mr. Badal said that the Union government was apathetic towards border areas as hardly any heed was paid for its development by them.
Later on talking to the media person the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders were making false propaganda regarding the poor fiscal condition of the state. Making a scathing attack on the state Congress leaders he said that in dearth of issues against the state government they were stooping at the low level. Mr Badal said that already the charges of vendetta leveled by Congress leaders have proved to be hollow in the state assembly and now the Congress leaders have starting chanting this new rhyme. The fiscal situation of state was very sound and Punjab was ushering a new era of development, added the Chief Minister.
Mr Badal however said that if the state Congress leaders were seriously worried over the people of Punjab then they must pursue the case of exempting state’s mounting debt from the Union Government because it was the price of war which the people of state had fought for the nation during the period of militancy. Replying to the query regarding education system of the state, the Chief Minister said that a survey was being conducted for requirement of infra structure and staff in education sector adding that in coming three years education system of the state would be completely revitalized.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr Surjeet Kumar Jiyani, Financial Commissioner Forest Mr DS Bains, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal, Lok Sabha MP Sher Singh Ghubaya besides other leaders of SAD-BJP alliance.
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