Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that a thorough probe will be conducted into the alleged irregularities in distribution of sports kits to youth clubs during the tenure of the previous SAD-BJP Government.
Chief Minister’s assurance came while replying to a question raised by Congress MlA, Rajinder Beri during the question hour of the ongoing Budget session.
“No misappropriation in the intended use of sports kits meant for youth across the State would be tolerated or condoned, and if any irregularity comes to light the responsibility will be fixed and guilty will be sternly dealt with,” said Capt Amarinder.
He said that the selection of beneficiaries by the previous Government was done by a Beneficiary Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, with no political persons as members.
Reaffirming his personal commitment to overall development of the State’s youth, the Chief Minister said that his Government was duty-bound to facilitate them in their all-round development, of which sports was a vital aspect.
Involvement in sports activities will also help drug-affected youth to come back into the mainstream of the society, he added.
PUNJAB CONSERVING HISTORICAl, RElIGIOUS SITES IN FATEHGARH SAHIB
Developing its tourist circuit to tap tourist inflow, Punjab Government is carrying out the conservation work of historical and religious monuments in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
Among these include conservation of tombs and Rauza Sharif in Fatehgarh Sahib, Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind, and adaptive re-use of Aam Khas Bagh, informed Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu responding to Congress MlA, Kuljit Singh Nagra’s question.
He said that the conservation and restoration of landscaping of tombs of Raffudin, tomb of Alfsani, tomb of Bibi Taj and Rauza Sharif Masjid are being carried out in Fatehgarh Sahib.
In Sirhind’s Aam Khas Bagh, conservation and restoration of different buildings like Naughara, Sheesh Mahal, Mehtabi Bagh, northern pavilion and bastion are being done. Aam Khas Bagh will also be proposed under Mughal Circuit under Swadesh Darshan (Heritage Circuit) Scheme of Union Ministry of Tourism.
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Rauza Sharif and Mata Jagteshwari Temple — which are religious and historical sites — will also be taken up under spiritual circuit scheme of Centre’s Tourism Ministry.
TOWN WITH 50,000 POPUlATION ElIGIBlE FOR FIRE STATION
local Bodies Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu maintained that as per Centre’s notification and recommendations of the Standing Fire Council, fire
station can be set up in town with 50,000 or more population. Replying to Congress, MlA Navtej Singh Cheema’s query regarding setting up 24-hour available fire brigade at Sultanpur lodhi, Sidhu
pointed that Sultanpur lodhi cannot be included as it has 16,000 population, which is not even half. He said that with Chief Minister’s directions to make available fire services in minutes, just like pizza delivery, the State Government is setting up Fire Directorate which will complete all requirements.
WOUlD FINANCIAllY ASSIST PU IF IT REQUIRE MORE FUNDS: MANPREET
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has assured the House that the Punjab Government would consider in case if Panjab University, Chandigarh, was in need of more funds. “The university was established in 1882…and it is our pride,” he said while responding to a query raised by Congress MlA Sangat Singh Gilzian. Manpreet informed the House that
during past five years, Punjab Government has released Rs 12.53 crore grants for the varsity, and “to bail out PU from the present financial crisis, the Government has made additional budget provision of Rs 7 crore in 2017-18 fiscal year”.
TRAFFIC RUlES BEING TAUGHT TO GOVT SCHOOl STUDENTS: MINISTER
Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary asserted that an entire page and a chapter on traffic rules and procedures has been included in most of the books of classes II to the senior secondary. Responding to a query by Congress MlA Gurkirat Singh Kotli regarding “introducing” traffic rules
related subjects and making it mandatory in the State-run schools, Chaudhary said that it was already a part of school books as per the State Road Safety Council’s instructions and Punjab School Education Board’s decision.