State funding for village adopted by Harsimrat

Projects announced

• Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of concrete streets and drains for nearly Rs 7.5 crore
• Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, during his Sangat Darshan on January 2, announced Rs 80 lakh for development works

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, July 27

Mann village in the Lambi Assembly segment is being developed into a model village largely with state government funding even though Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has adopted it under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on July 21 laid the foundation stone for the construction of concrete streets and drains for nearly Rs7.5 crore. This work has to be executed by the Punjab Mandi Board.

Sham Behari Kansal, Executive Engineer, Punjab Mandi Board, Muktsar, said: “Nearly 10-km-long concrete streets and drains will be built in the village for which the Deputy Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone.”

Similarly, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, during his Sangat Darshan on January 2, had announced Rs80 lakh for development works.

In contrast, Harsimrat — during her recent visit last month – did not announce any funds for the village. She just directed the administration to buy a fogging machine to control mosquitoes.

Then, she just appealed the residents to develop their thinking to become residents of a model village, saying, “A village is not called developed until its residents take part in positive activities. The village must set an example of communal harmony and respect for women. All residents must make self-help groups to solve their problems at their end.” Harsimrat had adopted the village on November 15 last year. This village falls in the CM’s home turf Lambi.

Harsimrat has initiated the construction of a community hall in the village. Teja Singh, sarpanch, said: “The Union Minister has sanctioned a grant of Rs62 lakh for the construction of the village community hall. The Mandi Board officials have been assigned this task and the work is under way.”

After witnessing the state’s overexcitement to meet Harsimrat’s desires by going the extra mile, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann had raised objection with reference to the village adopted by him.

Quick to react to Mann’s grouse, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had replied: “The village has been adopted by Bhagwant Mann. Let him spend from his allocated funds to develop it as a model village. It is not the responsibility of the state exchequer to spend money and develop his adopted village.”

Courtesy: The Tribune