“I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the development of Ambala Cantonment and assure that I will continue working for its progress till my last breath” : Energy Minister Anil Vij

Chandigarh, May 17 – Haryana’s Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that “I have devoted myself completely to the development of Ambala Cantonment and I assure the people that I will continue to work for its development till my last breath.”

Sh. Vij was addressing people today during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the stone pitching work from Babyal to Ramgarh Majra on the Tangri embankment near Sant Shiromani Ravidas Temple in Babyal, Ambala Cantonment, and for the reconstruction of the Mahesh Nagar Pump House building along with the upliftment of new flood gates.

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that today the stone pitching work from Babyal to Ramgarh Majra along the Tangri river embankment is being started, while tenders have already been floated for the stone pitching work from Ramgarh Majra to the Punjab border. Stone pitching from Babyal to the Punjab border will be carried out at a total cost of approximately Rs. 7.34 crore. Similarly, during the programme at Mahesh Nagar Pump House, Minister Anil Vij laid the foundation stone for reconstruction of the building and raising of flood gates at a cost of Rs. 2.80 crore.

He said that continuous efforts are being made to protect the region from floods. When the government was formed in Haryana for the first time under their leadership, he got a permanent embankment constructed from Ramgarh Majra to Ghasitpur and also built a road there, which people are benefiting from today. Last year, Tangri river witnessed a record flow of 43,000 cusecs of water, due to which the opposite side of the industrial area was affected. He said that excavation work of the Tangri river was initiated, but some anti-development elements in Ambala Cantonment did not allow the river to be deepened.

Now the Tangri river has been deepened from Ramgarh Majra to the Saharanpur railway line, while excavation from the Saharanpur railway line to the Delhi railway line is still pending. Tenders have also been floated for river excavation from Shahpur to Durana, but anti-development elements are creating obstacles, due to which work has remained stalled for the past month. He said that until water drainage becomes faster, the administration is proceeding cautiously and carrying out demarcation. He explained that according to river engineering principles, water cannot flow swiftly unless the entire riverbed remains at the same level. He expressed the desire that excavation work should be completed before the monsoon season so that water drainage can improve significantly.

Anti-development elements are obstructing development works in the city; Energy Minister Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that efforts were also made to construct an embankment on the industrial area side of the Tangri river, but anti-development elements created obstacles there as well. A proposal has been sent to the government to strengthen the embankment by constructing a proper protective wall. He further said that several other works have also been undertaken to improve water drainage. Earlier, only a 100-cusec capacity motor was installed at the Mahesh Nagar Pump House and there was no direct access to the Tangri river. Land was acquired from the embankment to the Tangri river, a drain was excavated up to the river, and now 350-cusec pumps have been installed. Despite this, these anti-development elements continued to oppose the work.

He further stated that boundary walls are being constructed around the industrial area, but some mischievous elements are trying to disrupt the work. Issuing a stern warning, Energy Minister Anil Vij said that “Those who create hurdles in development works will not be spared. My name is Anil Vij, and all of Haryana knows that I do not spare troublemakers.” He said that the boundary wall must be constructed under all circumstances because thousands of people in the city get employment from the industrial area, and the industrial area itself is a symbol of the city’s development. Last year, goods worth crores of rupees were damaged due to flooding, and the wall is necessary to prevent such losses this year as well. Minister Vij also directed the SDM Cantonment from the stage to take immediate action in this matter.

Rs. 58 crore approved for laying storm water lines in other parts of Ambala Cantonment: Energy Minister Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that at the entry point of the Tangri river into the cantonment area, a drain was excavated connecting directly to the river, allowing nearly 700 cusecs of water to flow directly into Tangri before entering the city. He also got the Gudgudiya drain concretized, enabling mechanical cleaning. In Ambala Sadar area, storm water drainage pipelines have already been laid. Now, storm water drainage pipelines will also be laid in other parts of the cantonment, for which Rs. 58 crore has already been approved. He also got a Rs. 24 crore project approved for concretizing the Mahesh Nagar drain, and only a small portion of the work remains pending.

Previous governments did nothing in 50 years to protect the cantonment from floods: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that previous governments had done nothing over the last 50 years to protect the cantonment from floods. Upon becoming minister, the first major work he undertook was constructing a permanent road on the Tangri embankment from Ramgarh Majra to Ghasitpur. Today, this road serves as a major route for public movement. The road has now been connected to GT Road and most of the work has been completed, with only some anti-development elements creating hurdles. He further stated that another road connecting to GT Road has also been constructed through the Nanhera overbridge area. A new road will also be built there, and the process of taking railway land on lease is underway.

He said that the Tangri river has been deepened further this year to avoid any flood-like situation. Similarly, embankment construction is also being planned on the other side of the river, and the file for approval has already been sent to the department. Proper arrangements, including sandbag reinforcement, will also be made there.

Second phase work of Bank Square to begin soon: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that the first phase work of Bank Square has been completed and tenders worth Rs. 58 crore have already been floated for the second phase. Around 32 banks and showrooms of major companies will be established there. He also said that auctions for shops in the upcoming Night Food Street will soon take place. Sh. Vij further stated that the local bus service launched in Ambala has proved to be highly successful, with nearly half the buses being electric vehicles and the remaining non-EV buses. In the coming days, all buses in Ambala will be converted into EV buses. This will provide people with air-conditioned bus facilities while also helping in reducing pollution.

SDM Kanika Goyal, Irrigation Department SE Manish Bhardwaj, Municipal Council Chairperson Swaran Kaur, Vice Chairman Lalta Prasad, Sanjeev Soni, Madanlal Sharma, Dimple Rana, Narendra Rana, Mohit Kaushik, Bharat Kochhar, Billu Rana, Reena Shakya, Babita Jain, Shyam Sundar Arora, Shilpa Pasi, Aarti Sehgal, Puneet Sarpal, Raman Chhatwal, Harsh Bindra, Pravesh Sharma, Ravi Budhiraja, Vijendra Chauhan, Rajeev Gupta Dimple, Ashish Aggarwal, Anuj Yadav, Gaurav Saini, Shaili Khanna, Satish Shakya, Anil Nagar, Himanshu, Kirti Sharma, Sonali Uppal and several other dignitaries were present during the programme.