Punjab: Mann seeks support of panchayats for anti-drug drive
Mann further promised to develop these villages into model villages and also announced to hike honorarium for 'Sarpanchs' to ₹2,000 per month.
He was addressing a gathering during the state-level function to mark 'Panchayat Diwas' here.
A village that will declare itself "drug-free" will be given financial assistance worth ₹1 lakh, besides other ultra-modern facilities, Mann said.
Drug free villages will be developed as model villages and no stone will be left unturned to give fillip to their development, he said.
He asked village 'Sarpanchs' to play a proactive role in this noble cause so that the scourge of drugs is wiped out from the state with active public support.
Mann said the state government will not sit idly and watch smugglers bloom at the cost of bodies and pyres of drug victims.
The state government has already snapped the supply line of drugs and big fish involved in this heinous crime have been put behind bars, the chief minister said.
For the first time, the property of the drug smugglers acquired illegally is being destroyed by the state government so that it acts as a deterrent for others, he added.
Meanwhile, Mann announced that Sarpanches would be given an honorarium worth ₹2,000 per month starting from the day they were elected.
Earlier his predecessors had promised ₹1,200 as honorarium but that decision never saw the light of the day, he said.
Village panchayats are the most significant organ of the democratic system which has been instrumental in transformation of the rural areas. They are known as 'foundations of democracy' and play a major role in implementing the policies of the state government at the ground level.
He reiterated that the state government is committed to extend all possible support and cooperation to the Sarpanchs as they played a pro-active role in the process of overall rural development.
They are the real eyes and ears of the state government as they are well connected with the masses at ground level, he said.
He said that it is very unfortunate that several works in villages are jeopardised due to widespread groupism in the villages. Sarpanchs must accord top priority to abolish groupism in villages.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Mann inaugurates ₹17.21-crore road projects in Sangrur
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday laid the foundation stone for two road projects worth ₹17.21 crore during a ceremony marking the death anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dhadhogal. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann with people at Satauj village in Sangrur on Sunday. (HT Photo) Addressing the gathering, Mann described Punjab as a sacred land enriched by the legacy of Gurus, saints, martyrs, and poets, and lauded the resilience and hard work of Punjabis. Paying homage to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dhadhogal, Mann recalled his sacrifices in the struggle against tyranny and injustice, highlighting his role in the Parja Mandal movement and close association with Sewa Singh Thikriwal. Mann noted that Dhadhogal was sentenced to 10 years during the Akali ,ovement and later played a key role in the Gurdwara Reform Movement. Mann reiterated his government's zero-tolerance policy towards drug traffickers, stating that influential 'jarnails' who patronised the trade—even using government vehicles—had been arrested for the first time. Highlighting irrigation achievements, the CM said that canal water coverage in Punjab's agricultural land had risen from 21% to 63% since he took office, with river water now reaching tail-end villages for the first time in history. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to conserving the state's water resources. The chief minister also stressed that the dreams of the martyrs remain unfulfilled due to lack of sincere efforts in the past, asserting that Punjabis' patriotism needs no validation from those in power. Mann announced that the state will organize historic events to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Later, during a visit to his native village Satauj, Mann interacted with residents and handed over a cheque of ₹1.76 crore to the panchayat for village development.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab:Burlton Park in Jalandhar revamp hits roadblock over tree felling
The much-hyped Burlton Park sports hub project hit a roadblock after the auction related to cutting down fully grown trees was deferred twice following strong objections from environmentalists. Burlton Park sports hub project has remained in limbo for 17 years, is now estimated to cost ₹ 77.77 crore. (HT Photo) Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal laid the foundation stone of the project on June 11, this year. The project, which has remained in limbo for 17 years, is now estimated to cost ₹77.77 crore. As per the detailed project report, the Jalandhar municipal corporation had planned to cut 50 trees to clear the land for the construction of the new stadium. However, the corporation's plans irked the environmentalist organisations, which decided to move the Punjab and Haryana high court against the local body. Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir said the corporation had discussed the environmental concerns involving the project and decided to come up with an alternative to tree felling. 'We have come up with an alternative. The corporation will shift these fully grown trees to another suitable location within the Burlton Park. We have been identifying the places for relocation of the trees so that they don't come in the way of the construction of the new stadium,' Dhir said. He added that the issue will be resolved after a detailed discussion. 'We have ensured that nearly 300 more mature trees will be planted to ensure quick growth,' he said. The sports hub, which is to come up on 60 acres, will include outdoor sports facilities such as a cricket stadium, an astroturf hockey ground and a seven-a-side football ground (natural grass), each with separate pavilion areas. It will also have indoor sports facilities for multiple disciplines, including yoga, skating, cycling and jogging. Stalled since 2008 The project was first floated by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) combine in 2008. In 2016, the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs announced that Jalandhar would be developed as a Smart City, with the sports hub set to be one of the key projects. In 2022, just before the state assembly elections, the then Congress government had awarded the project's tender to a Chandigarh-based firm, with a completion deadline of 12 months. But only the construction of the boundary wall was done. A sum of ₹1.13 crore was also released to the company, after which the MC terminated the tender. Dhir said after much deliberation, the municipal corporation has re-allotted the tenders to the same company, which was assigned the project earlier, for the construction of the sports hub. 'In the past few months, multiple meetings were held with contractors, who were assured that all the required logistics would be provided for the completion of the project,' said Dhir. It may be mentioned that CM Mann announced that Burlton Park will be renamed after a legendary Punjabi athlete, shedding its colonial legacy.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Soldiers killed in Kulgam encounter cremated with military honours
Lance Naik Pritpal Singh (28) from Manupur village near Samrala and sepoy Harminder Singh (26) from Mandi Gobindgarh, who lost their lives during an ongoing army operation in Akhal area of Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir, were cremated with military and state honours on Sunday. Lance Naik Pritpal Singh was cremated with full military and state honours in Ludhiana on Sunday. (Hindustan Times) Samrala MLA Jagtar Singh Diyalpura, along with sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Rajnish Arora, superintendent of police (SP) Tejvir Singh Hundal paid tributes on behalf of the Punjab government and the district administration, respectively. Army men performed the ceremonial last salute. MLA Dialpura said chief minister Bhagwant Mann assured that the state government stood with them in the difficult times. The MLA said the state government would provide financial assistance to the family as per its policy. SDM Arora, while sharing condolences with Pritpal Singh's wife Manpreet Kaur, father Harbans Singh, mother and brothers, affirmed that the district administration would always be ready to assist the family. Samrala BDPO Lakhwinder Kaur, naib tehsildar Rajesh Ahuja and senior army officers, along with a large number of local residents, social and religious figures also offered tributes. Pritpal had joined the army in 2015. His uncle and father's elder brother are also retired army personnel. He was married off just six months ago. Pritpal's brother Harpreet Singh said he received a call on Friday morning from army officials that he died in a gunfight. He was eagerly awaited by his family, as this Diwali was to be his first visit home after his wedding just a few months ago. Sepoy Harminder Singh (26) was to return home on leave in a week, his cousin said. He is survived by his elderly parents, a brother and a sister. The two soldiers were killed in an overnight gunfight with terrorists on the ninth day of an ongoing encounter in Kulgam on Saturday. The encounter began on August 1 after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest at Akhal in the south Kashmir district, following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann has already expressed grief over the death of the two soldiers. Former CM Amarinder Singh, too, condoled their death. 'Their supreme sacrifice in service to the nation will never be forgotten,' Singh posted on X. (With PTI inputs)
