CHANDIGARH: The Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, Forest & Wildlife Preservation Minister, Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak unfurled the National flag at Sri Guru Gobind Singh sports stadium (Sri Muktsar Sahib) and took salute from the parade on the occasion of country’s 76th Republic Day.
Greeting the people of the State on the occasion, the Minister said that the Nation became a Republic on January 26th, 1950 with the constitution coming into force. Remembering the contribution of the architect of the constitution Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the Minister added that it is due to the constitution that all the citizens of the country are living their lives in a peaceful manner rising above the considerations of caste, creed, race and religion.
Elaborating the measures undertaken by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government towards eradication of unemployment, Mr. Kataruchak divulged that more than 50, 000 youth have been recruited in various departments in a transparent way. Adding more, the Minister said that the State Government has increased the Ex-Gratia amount for martyred soldiers hailing from the state to Rs. 1 Crore from earlier Rs. 50 Lakh. The Agniveers have also been included in the said scheme of financial assistance. Furthermore, 90 percent of the domestic consumers of the state are getting zero electricity bills.
Disclosing more, the Minister said that last year, the State Government purchased Sri Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Plant at a cost of Rs. 1080 Crore which made it the first time in the annals of Indian history that a State Government bought a private plant. The plant has been named after Sahib Sri Guru Amardass Ji. Also, the facility of free power to the farmers has been continued by the Punjab Government with the provision of Rs. 9330 Crore being made for free power amenity for the current financial year. In respect of the Financial Year 2024-25, the Punjab Government has till now paid subsidy to the tune of Rs. 9251 Crore to the PSPCL.
Coming to the sugarcane growers, the State Government is giving its sugarcane growers the highest rate i.e. Rs. 401 Per Quintal. In order to encourage the sugarcane cultivation, the State Government transferred the amount of Rs. 242.43 Crore as subsidy directly into the accounts of the sugarcane growers and has also made the due payments in full concerning the year 2023-24 crushing season.
He further added that with a view to ensure paddy management with scientific methods, the PEDA has operationalized 4 Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects having 85.23 Tonnes of per day capacity with 7 more set to get started by the end of this year.
In order to make sure that the ration is distributed in a fair as well as hassle free manner, 14420 e-PoS kits were purchased alongwith IRIS scanners and Electronic Weighing Machines. Also, tenders for a time period of 5 years have been allotted to ensure proper maintenance of the e-PoS and the Electronic Weighing Machines. Now, every ration depot has been provided with an e-PoS Kit with the installation of Electronic Weighing Machines.
Reiterating the priority of the State Government to protect the trees as well as the environment from pollution, Mr. Kataruchak divulged that ‘Tree Preservation Policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands 2024’ has been accorded approval. Under the State authority CAMPA and Hariyali Punjab Mission, 2.84 Lakh saplings have been planted and also, 3153.33 Hectare area has been brought under the forest cover. As per the policy of planting atleast four saplings per tubwell, 28.99 Lakh saplings stand planted per tubewell. Apart from this, 46 Pavittar Van and 268 Nanak Bagichis have been set up. In the nurseries of the department, 78 toilets are also being constructed for female staff members.
In order to achieve the target of bringing 7.5 percent area under forest cover by 2030, the State Government has collaborated with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implement a central government approved Rs. 792.88 Crore worth project which would be implemented in 5 years. Besides, the forest department has directly recruited 276 persons in the cadre of Deputy Ranger, Forester, Forest Guard and the Clerk during the past two years.
During the parade, the Parade Commander DSP Avtar Singh led contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Police (Women), Punjab Home Guards, NCC and Scouts saluted the National Flag and presented the march past. The band of Punjab police played the National Tune and children from different schools presented a mesmerizing cultural programme.
The family members of the freedom fighters were specially honoured on the occasion. As many as 20 needy women were given sewing machines by the red cross with the active assistance of the District Administration. The employees from multitude of the departments rendering exceptional services were felicitated and tableaus by various departments showcasing the development were also the centre of attraction.
On the occasion, Sukhcharan Singh (Nikka Brar) and Constable Udaikaran (Retd.) showered flower petals on the gathering with their Paraglider.
Among others present on the occasion included MLA from Sri Muktsar Sahib Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar, District & Sessions Judge Raj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi, DIG Ashwani Kapoor, SSP Tushar Gupta, ADC Gurpreet Singh Thind, ADC (Development) Sukhdarshan Lal Kundal, SDM Baljit Kaur, Chairperson Hospital Welfare Institution Nishtha Tripathi and officers of various departments.