Even as the agrarian and border State of Punjab is in the grip of drug abuse crisis, the State Government is yet to make a provision of establishing drug de-addiction centres in every Vidhan Sabha constituency of the State.
Surjit Kumar Jayani, Punjab Minister Health & Family Welfare on Monday said that there is no provision to establish de-addiction centres in every Vidhan Sabha constituency but each lok Sabha constituency already has a Government de-addiction centre.
Jayani was replying to a question posed by MlA Rana Gurjit Singh during the Question Hour in Punjab Assembly on Monday.
After Minister’s reply, the Assembly witnessed noisy scenes with Congress legislators alleging that the state government has only been making announcements to establish drug de-addiction centres and is hardly working for this.
Jayani added that at present, 177 patients are undergoing treatment at the drug-de addiction centres of the State. He added that the issue of drugs menace is serious and the Government is making concerted efforts to deal with it. Physiatrist has also been appointed for rehabilitation of drug addicts, he informed.
From traditional drugs such as opium, heroin and smack to non-traditional form of drug use are fast catching the fancy of youngsters in Punjab.
Notably, a study by the state’s department of Social Security Development of Women and Children in the year 2012 had stated that around 67 percent of rural households in Punjab had at least one drug addict in the family. The study had also stated that at least one death due to drug overdose occurs each week in the region.
During the ‘Question Hour’, some crucial questions asked by opposition included potable water supply in villages, encroachments on government lands, repair of link roads among others issues.
potable water in Villages by 2015-16 IJ
Contrary to the State Government’s claims of providing potable water to rural areas in the State, several villages of Nawanshahr constituency are not getting potable water while some villages are being supplied with contaminated water.
At present, 16 villages in Nawanshahr constituency are not getting clean water as per the prescribed norms and they have to wait till 2015. In addition to this, water being supplied in five villages was found to be contaminated.
As per Punjab Government’s plans, the people of 16 villages of Nawashahr constituency have to wait for another year or more to get supply of drinking water. In a reply to a question raised by MlA Guriqbal Kaur about potable water supply in villages in Nawashahr, Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister, Surjit Singh Rakhra informed that the work has been allotted to provide clean water to these villages and it would be commissioned by the end of 2014 in 2 villages and in 2015-16 in other villages.
Int’l level Football Stadium at Mahilpur
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal in a reply to a question said the State Government has proposed to lay a ‘Synthetic Football Ground’ at a cost of `5.45 crore at Mahilpur town of district Hoshiarpur. A proposal in this regard has been sent to the Government of India for 100 per cent Central assistance under the ‘Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme’. The Synthetic Football Ground would be developed on approval of funds from the Union Government, said he.
No Fire Brigade likely at Nabha
Congress legislators blamed the ruling party for poor disaster management response and asked them to strengthen emergency fire fighting services. The issue was raised when Punjab local Government Minister Anil Joshi was replying to a question raised by Congress MlA Sadhu Singh Dharamsot about details of installation of fire extinguishers at Nabha. In his reply, the Minister Anil Joshi said that neither there is a fire brigade established at Nabha nor there is any proposal to set up a fire brigade there.
After this, leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar and Congress legislator Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also intervened and asked the Deputy Chief Minister to utilize funds from disaster response funds to ensure necessary fire fighting services at various places in the state. On this, Deputy Chief Minister assured to take up the issue with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Patalpuri Sahib water supply to remain same
In a reply to a question on plan chalked out by the State Government to increase the flow of water at the holy place, Punjab Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that the flow of water remains the same at holy place Patalpuri Sahib near Kiratpur Sahib because only 100-150 cusecs of water is released into Nakkian Khad through Nakkian escape of Nangal Hydel Channel. To meet with the shortage of water at Asthghat Patalpuri Sahib, a proposal for micro hydel project on Sri Anandpur Sahib Hydel channel by PEDA is under approval with Government. With the completion of this project, the shortage of water will be met with at the holy place.