IEP Chandigarh
Expressing concern over the fatalities due to road accidents in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced to constitute dedicated ‘Road Safety Force’ to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads of the state.
Addressing the gathering after dedicating Regional Driving Training centre to the state here today, the Chief Minister said that daily around 14 precious lives are lost in road accidents in Punjab. He said that this causality can be checked by manning the roads well for which ‘Road Safety Force’ will be formed in Punjab Police. Bhagwant Mann said that this force will be entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents adding that it will reduce the burden on cops deployed in Police stations.
The Chief Minister said that this is an ultra modern centre equipped with hi-tech technology adding that this centre will give major relief to people aspiring to get heavy license thereby saving their time, money and energy. He said that the foreign countries lay major thrust on preventing accidents on their roads. Bhagwant Mann said that in the countries abroad any resident has to give written and practical exams for getting the license.
The Chief Minister envisioned that like abroad, these centres will play a pivotal role in sensitizing the drivers to drive their vehicles safely on roads. Exhorting the people to imbibe basic traits of discipline, patience and obedience while driving their vehicle, he said that social behavior on roads must be disciplined for every individual in the larger interest of society. Bhagwant Mann said that his government is making all out efforts to remove the blind spots on the roads of the state to avert casualties on roads.
The Chief Minister unequivocally said that service of the state and its people are the top priorities of his government. Bhagwant Mann said that he is votary of morality in politics and taking even a single rupee from the public is equal to consuming poison for him. Bhagwant Mann said that honest, transparent and responsive government is the hallmark of his government.
Training his guns against the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said that as people have stopped hugging them for their misdeeds so now they are embracing each other by forgetting their ideological commitments. He said that these shameless people had mercilessly plundered the wealth of the state due to which people have ousted them from power. Bhagwant Mann said that these leaders will be made accountable for their sins and every penny will be recovered from them.
Taking the successive state governments to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that these corrupt people ignored the interests of the state for their vested political interests. He said that these politicians established their monopoly over the health, education, transport and other sectors by ruining the government institutions. Bhagwant Mann said that these leaders were so greedy that they didn’t even spare the food joints which were attracting huge crowds and tried to get a share in them too.
The Chief Minister reiterated the firm commitment of his government to safeguard the interests of the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann reiterated that Panjab University belongs to the state and no one will be allowed to change its basic structure by allowing entry of any other state in it. He also said that while Badals had given NOC for converting this apex institute into a Central University, his government will vehemently oppose any such anti-Punjab decision.
The Chief Minister said that the state government will ensure uninterrupted and regular power supply to the farmers for ensuing paddy cultivation. He said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements in this regard and there is no shortage of power in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state is already having coal stock of 52 days so power will be supplied in an uninterrupted manner to the food growers.
The Chief Minister for the first time in the history of the state, the Punjab government will put a tender for purchasing Goindwal Thermal Power plant. He said that this is unprecedented as for maiden time the state government will bid to buy a private plant. Bhagwant Mann said that the state has enough supply of coal through which this plant can be run efficiently.
The Chief Minister also said that three departments are being clubbed in the state to ensure optimum utilization of canal water. He said that at present only 30% of canal water is being used for irrigation but with this decision by next year 70% canal water for irrigation purposes. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in checking the depletion of groundwater in the state.
Highlighting the significance of Sarkar Tuhaade Dwaar, the Chief Minister said that it was a flagship program of his government for the progress of the state and prosperity of its people. He said that this program finds no parallel across the country as no other state government bothers to spare so much time for the people by solving their problems at their doorsteps. Bhagwant Mann said that this program helps in quick resolution of public problems on one hand besides judging the performance of the government officers/officials on the other.
The Chief Minister said that this pro-people initiative, stipulates that Cabinet Ministers and the officers especially the Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners maximize their field visits, especially in villages, and interact with the people by going to villages. He said that it is the need of the hour to facilitate the people in getting their day-to-day works done easily besides ensuring good governance to them. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in better functioning of the offices along with better acquaintance with the ground realities.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced the construction of a new byepass in Amargarh at a cost of Rs 45 crore.
On the occasion Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and others were also present.