Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday constituted a joint monitoring committee to ensure timely implementation of lift irrigation schemes in the ‘Kandi’ (sub-mountainous) region of Rupnagar, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and Mohali districts.
The decision was taken by Badal while presiding over a meeting convened after Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra requested.The committee would comprise Financial Commissioner Development, Secretary Irrigation and Secretary Power to finalise the modalities for the prompt implementation of lift irrigation project in the Kandi and mountainous region in order to mitigate the hardships of the people living there who were facing acute scarcity of irrigation water due to scanty rainfall there.
Responding to another issue of wild animals causing extensive damage to the standing crops in the Kandi region, the Chief Minister asked the Forest Department to prepare a time-bound action plan to save the people from this scourge.He asked the Financial Commissioner Forests to study the feasibility of fencing around the fields to prevent the entry of wild animals or stray cattle.
Badal also asked Prof Chandumajra to seek special funds, to tackle the menace of wild animals, from the Centre on the pattern of assistance already given to Himachal Pradesh. He added that he would also personally take up this matter with the Union Ministry of Forests.
On another issue to explore untapped tourism potential in the background of the scenic beauty of Sri Anandpur Sahib, the Chief Minister asked the Tourism Department to study the proposal of establishing a world class level amusement park at village Agampur besides exploring the possibility of water sports across the entire stretch of river Satluj from Nangal up to Rupnagar head works.
Badal said that probably Punjab was the only State which had abundant area under rivers but unfortunately we could not harness the tourism potential optimally. He asked the Tourism Department to engage the services of reputed international consultants in tourism to develop water sports in this area.
To further tap the irrigation potential in Kandi region, the Chief Minister also asked the Irrigation Department to submit a comprehensive proposal for the construction of already identified 44 check dams in Hoshiarpur district so as to ensure there completion in a stipulated time schedule.
Regarding the hardships faced by the residents of Mohali, Badal okayed the proposal mooted by Prof Chandumajra to introduce the city bus service thereby linking Mohali with Chandigarh and Panchkula especially Nadda Sahib.