Chandigarh, January 21:
Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Wednesday reiterated the state government’s firm stance on ensuring quality and transparency in the construction of rural sports playgrounds across Punjab. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is developing 3,100 rural sports grounds with the primary objective of steering youth away from drug abuse and motivating them towards sports and healthy lifestyles.
Addressing a press conference here, Minister Sond said that to ensure complete transparency and effective ground-level monitoring, the government has deployed three special flying squads. These squads will act as the “eyes and ears” of the government, conducting surprise inspections in villages to assess the actual progress and quality of work. He categorically stated that mere paperwork will no longer be acceptable and that quality construction on the ground is mandatory.
The Cabinet Minister informed that an MIS (Management Information System) portal has been developed for real-time monitoring of the project. Concerned officials are required to upload progress reports every 15 days along with photographs and geo-tagged evidence of the work carried out.
Sending a strong message on systemic reforms, Sond said that wherever false reporting or negligence in work has been detected, immediate action has been taken. Several officials have already been suspended and show cause notices issued. He made it clear that no political interference will be tolerated in such matters.
He further stated that uniform technical standards have been enforced across Punjab and third-party techno-financial audits are being conducted to ensure quality and financial discipline. “Every single rupee of public money is being accounted for so that rural Punjab receives world-class sports infrastructure,” he said.
The Minister added that sarpanches, gram panchayats and local sports clubs have been made key stakeholders in the initiative. These institutions, he said, are not mere spectators but active partners who will help monitor development works at the village level.
Responding to questions raised by the opposition, Sond said that honest officers have nothing to fear. Action will be taken only against those involved in false reporting, corruption or dereliction of duty. He emphasized that accountability has been made systemic rather than personal.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, the Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government is fully dedicated to safeguarding public funds and securing a better future for the youth. “This is the new Punjab, where playgrounds will not only be built but every inch of them will be closely monitored,” he concluded.
