Dhuri: Kicking off its major people-friendly initiative called ‘Sarkar Tuhade Dwar’ from Dhuri Legislative Constituency, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that this step will further revolutionize the entire governance system by ensuring the delivery of citizen-centric services at the doorsteps of people.

“This is a path-breaking initiative aimed at making the bureaucracy directly accountable to the people thereby empowering them,” said the Chief Minister while addressing the gathering during first of its kind initiative.

The Chief Minister said that this program will bring governance to the doorsteps of the people thereby empowering them in a real sense. He said that this move will prove to be a game changer by ensuring optimal usage of Human Resources as well as the timely implementation of various welfare programs. Bhagwant Mann said that people will be immensely benefitted by this pro-people move as they will not have to run pillar to post for getting services in government offices.

The Chief Minister said that Dhuri will be developed as the model constituency across the state as a new era will be ushered from this land with ultra-modern health care and other basic facilities. Bhagwant Mann said that the issue of Dhuri Sugar Mill will be resolved soon and the interests of farmers will be safeguarded by all means. He said that no stone will be left unturned for ensuring the well-being of people and the state at all costs.

The Chief Minister said that natural water resources like Ghaggar will be revived with the strengthening of the embankments of these precious sources. Likewise, he said that timely desilting and cleaning of these water resources will be ensured so that maximum utilisation of canal and surface water is ensured. Bhagwant Mann said that it is the need of the hour to ensure that the groundwater table is checked from further depletion.

The Chief Minister that the state government is taking massive steps for optimum utilisation of the canal water to save the groundwater. He said that at present Punjab is using only 33%-34% of its canal water adding that this will be enhanced in the coming days. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that if Punjab can enhance the canal water utilisation to 60% in the first phase then nearly four lakh tubewells out of a total of 14 lakh can be stopped thereby helping in saving water.

The Chief Minister also urged farmers to refrain from cultivating water-guzzling varieties of paddy and asked them to adopt PR-127 and 129 to save worthless groundwater. He said that it is the need of the hour to save the precious water of the state as the state has already entered the dark zone as far as water depletion is concerned. Bhagwant Mann reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to save water for our coming generations.

Expressing grave concern about farm fire incidents, the Chief Minister said that this is very unfortunate that some farmers do not hesitate to burn wheat crop residue just to show their adamant behaviour. He said that this inhuman practice poses a grave threat not only to them but to the coming generations and the environment also. Bhagwant Mann also appealed to the farmer’s organizations not to follow the agitation path without any valid reason.

The Chief Minister said that when the doors of government are always open for talk, then these protests are illogical and irrational. Citing an example, he said that the state government has already announced to reimburse the farmers against the value cut imposed by the Union Government. However, Bhagwant Mann bemoaned that even then some Farmer’s Unions have blocked railway tracks on this demand which was already fulfilled by his government.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has always listened to every genuine demand of any citizen for the sake of Punjab and its people. He said that even today they are ready to listen to all the genuine demands of every section of society. However, Bhagwant Mann said that unnecessary protests and agitations without any genuine reason are unwarranted and undesirable.

Highlighting the efforts of his government to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the upcoming paddy season, the Chief Minister said that all arrangements have been made to meet the demand of peak season. He informed that 40 days of coal have already been reserved in every public sector thermal plant and agreements have already been inked with other states to meet the high demand in the ensuing paddy season. Bhagwant Mann also informed that Rs. 20,200 crores have already been reimbursed to PSPCL against the subsidy of various sectors.

Speaking about the measures to save electricity, the Chief Minister said that the office timings have been changed in Punjab and due to this the state government has been able to save 350MW of electricity daily. He said that Rs. 50 crore will be saved through this first-of-its-kind move. Bhagwant Maan also informed that traffic congestion has already started easing out with this unique move and a study revealed that 7000-litre fuel is saved daily on a single Airport Road of Mohali.

Urging the people to be active partners in the process of development, the Chief Minister invited them to oversee the development projects of their area to ensure judicious use of public funds. He also informed that an SDM Level Officer will be deputed to monitor the development work of the Dhuri constituency. Bhagwant Mann announced a Trauma Centre for Dhuri besides the upgradation of the existing hospital with ultra-modern treatment facilities.

The Chief Minister also said that 14 roads of 118 KM will get a facelift at a cost of Rs 71.36 crore and the tenders will be floated soon in this regard. He also announced that construction of the Railway over Bridge (ROB) will start soon and Rs 35 crore has already been transferred by the State Government to the GoI. He informed that Dhuri Distributary will also get a facelift with the cost of Rs 19.50 crore.