Governor laid foundation stone of development works in 13 villages
Chandigarh, October 9:- In order to provide ease of living in the villages falling under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor, Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh today laid foundation stone of various developmental projects scheduled to be done in 13 villages here today at village Behlana in the presence of Smt. Kirron Kher, Member Parliament (virtual), Sh. Ravi Kant Sharma, Mayor, Sh. Dharmpal, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation.
While addressing the local residents and representatives of village development committees of all 13 villages, the Governor said that he can understand due to COVID Pandemic the pace of development works hampered to some extent but the intention to do the work remained intact amongst the officers of Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation. With the execution of these sewerage and water supply schemes, approximately a population of 1.30 Lacs would be benefited.
The Governor said that in India, water is given the status of an incarnation of God, ‘Varuna’, who is worshipped as the god of all forms of the water element. It’s my sincere advice to you all that to meet the diminishing water resources and escalating water demand, water conservation is the need of an hour.
He said that in today’s context, the saying “water saved is water generated” is truer than ever before. We all need to learn how to use water judiciously. Integrated water resource management has now become absolutely necessary. Similarly, the existing institutions involved in providing the basic needs be restructured and strengthened. The 3 R strategy of reduce, recycle and reuse of the resources has to find place in our day to day lives.
Smt. Kirron Kher, Member Parilament, Chandigarh addressed the public virtually. She said that with the increase in Population of Chandigarh, the population here in these villages also increased manifold. The capacity of the infrastructure has, therefore, become inadequate. The developmental works in these will be carried out by the Municipal Corporation in phased manner and today the foundation stone of Sewerage and Water Supply of 13 villages have been laid and the work commenced from today.
She said that besides this, renovation works of Dharmshalas, Sampark centres, Anganwadi Buildings, Health Centres, Cremation Ground, Panchayat Ghar and Community Centres will also be taken up in these villages at the cost of Rs. 204 Lacs for which tendering process has already been initiated.
Sh. Ravi Kant Sharma, Mayor, Chandigarh said that the Municipal Corporation has undertaken various projects for the upkeep of these villages so that the residents of these areas would not face issues related to basic amenities. The basic infrastructural facilities will also be upgraded and strengthened at a cost of Rs.102.21 crores. Existing conventional streetlights are also required to be replaced by LED lights and various dark spots need to be lightened on priority, he added.
He said that a sum of Rs. 50 crore has been received as dedicated funds and initially the work for strengthening the sewerage, storm water drainage and water supply pipelines in these villages has been taken up for upgradation. The work of internal streets, roads, footpaths, horticulture & Electrical work will be taken up after completion of the Public Health work. To carry out these remaining works additional dedicated funds amounting to Rs. 20 crores are required, added the Mayor.
Sh. Dharmpal, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh said that there were issues of these village residents are facing daily problems of contaminated water, overflow of sewerage on the street/roads, broken roads/streets, poor conditions of footpaths and storm water is running in open drains. Existing conventional streetlights are also required to be replaced by LED lights and various dark spots are also required to be lightened.
He said that for the upgradation of these infrastructure facilities like sewerage line, storm line, water supply line, streets/roads, lights and upgradation of buildings in these villages, a project has been prepared by the Municipal Corporation and the work has been initiated today.
Earlier, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh welcomed the Chief Guest and all other guests during the programme. She said that these thirteen villages have been brought under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation. Chandigarh are Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Makhan Majra, Daria, Mauli Jagran, Kishangarh, Kaimbala, Khudda Jassu, Khudda Lahora , Khuda Ali Sher, Dhanas, Sarangpur on March 2019. She said that the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has prepared a detailed developmental plan for the upgradation of infrastructure in these villages and the works are being started from today and it will be completed well before the stipulated time frame.
Others who present on the occasion were Sh. Nitin Gupta, IAS, Finance Secretary, Sh. Devendra Dalai, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest, Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, IAS, Deputy Commiasioner, Sh. Arun Sood, President BJP, Chandigarh, Haji Mohd. Khushird Ali, Incharge village development committee, Behlana, other councilors of MCC, village development committee incharges (nominated councilors of MCC), other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation and former Sarpanchs of the 13 villages.
