To save the state’s rapidly depleting ground water, Punjab Government would soon provide drinkable canal water to the residents of its four metro cities — Jalandhar, Patiala , Ludhiana and Amritsar.
“Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to ensure maximum utilisation of river or canal waters; and in the first phase, four big cities would get the canal water under 25 to 30 years plan,” said the state’s Local Bodies Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar, while addressing the media on Tuesday after reviewing the ongoing development works and implementation of welfare schemes in Kapurthala.
The Minister said that the government has also identified 85 other cities and towns, falling within the 15 km radius of any river or canal, so that the drinkable water can be provided to the major portion of Punjab in an easy manner.
Directing the officials to ensure quality control, the Minister said that contractors who didn’t work as per the specifications must be blacked out for future works to ensure quality in government works.
Reviewing the 16 projects under Smart City Sultanpur Lodhi, the Minister has asked the officials to complete these projects on war footing as it would not only facilitate the pilgrims visiting the holy city but also to promote it as a favoured religious tourist destination.