CM Mann inaugurates Firozpur feeder canal
Digital Desk, Chandigarh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today inaugurated the first phase of renovation of Firozpur Feeder Canal and described it as a historic gift to the farmers. He said that this historic step will prove to be a historic step to save the water of Punjab in future. Describing this canal as the lifeline of Malwa region, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this project will prove to be a boon for Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka districts.
He said that this project has increased the irrigation capacity, due to which canal water will reach more fields in Punjab. This project costing Rs 180 crore has increased the capacity of this canal by 2681 cusecs, increasing its capacity from 11,192 cusecs to 13,873 cusecs. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that previous governments had failed to increase the capacity of the canal or do concrete lining for 74 years, but the present government has made major reforms at the ground level. He said that when his government came to power, only 21 percent of canal water reached the fields of Punjab, whereas today it is reaching 68 percent. Due to which there has been a big improvement in the irrigation system in the entire state.
The Chief Minister today again said that Punjab does not have surplus water to give to anyone else. He said that the interest of Punjab is paramount and not even a drop of water will be given to any other state. He said that the Congress and Akali Dal governments have betrayed Punjab by making agreements to provide water to other states. Taking aim at the Akali Dal, he said that the party which is not getting 11 members to form the committee, is dreaming of winning 117 seats in Punjab. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today is a historic and happy day for the people of Punjab, especially the Malwa region.
The first phase of renovation of the Firozpur Feeder Canal, which is considered the lifeline of many districts of Malwa region, is being inaugurated today. He further said, “With the renovation, this canal will prove to be a boon by meeting the water needs of humans, animals and the agricultural sector.” The Chief Minister said, “Rs 180 crore has been spent on the first phase. I congratulate the engineers, government officials and employees who completed the 15 km lining of the canal on war footing within 35 days.” He said that a total of 126 government employees and 4,000 workers were deployed for this project. He said, “With the inauguration of the first phase, the capacity of the canal has increased by 2,681 cusecs. Earlier the capacity of the canal was 11,192 cusecs, which has now increased to 13,873 cusecs.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann further said, “The depth of the canal has been increased from 18 feet to 21 feet and the width of the canal has been increased from 163 feet to 180 feet.” Starting from Harike Headworks, this canal provides irrigation facilities to the area of four districts of Firozpur, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka. “The renovation of this canal will directly benefit 14 blocks of these four districts namely Giddarbaha, Makkhu, Mamdot, Balluana, Jalalabad, Guru Har Sahay, Arniwala, Khuiyan Sarwar, Lambi, Malout, Fazilka, Muktsar and Ferozepur.”
The Chief Minister said, "With the relining of this canal, 6,45,200 hectares of land will get irrigation water. Now the border areas along the International Border, especially Fazilka and Jalalabad, will get water from the Firozpur feeder." He said that earlier water used to go to Pakistan through feeder from Hussainiwala Headworks and dirty water was released into Sutlej river flowing near Kasur city of Pakistan, which then came into the country. He said, “The border villages receive dirty water but now a water recharge system has been started to increase the groundwater and provide clean water to the villages.” Referring to the earlier works of renovation of the canals, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "Last year, the lining work of Sirhind feeder, which is part of the Ferozepur feeder system, was completed. The relining of the Ferozepur feeder will increase the capacity of the Sirhind feeder, which will solve the problem of water shortage forever."
He further said that the Ferozepur feeder canal was built in 1952 and in the last 74 years, previous governments did not take any step to increase its capacity or do concrete lining. The Chief Minister said, "The existing structure of the canal was in poor condition, due to which there was a shortage of about 1,000 cusecs of water in the Kharif season and the canals had to be run on a rotational basis. This canal renovation project will contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the farmers of the Malwa region." Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government has spent Rs 6,500 crore to restart the canal system and for the first time, 1365 villages in the state have got canal water.”
The Chief Minister said that when the AAP government came to power, only 21 percent of the canal water was being used for irrigation in the state. “Today, 68 percent of the canal water is being used for irrigation and this will be increased to 85 percent by the coming paddy season.” He said that 18,349 headwaters of 6,900 km length have been reactivated to deliver water to the last mile.
Taking a dig at the previous governments, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "The leaders whose canal ended till their homes never worried about it. What kind of decisions can only be taken by leaders who know the ground reality and not those who studied in convent schools in the hills." He further said, “These old political parties were traitors who were never loyal to the state and its people.”
He reminded the people, "The people who signed the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal agreement and allowed its survey have big resorts in Haryana, while the other who gave the then Prime Minister a silver kahi (fabdha) to make the cut, today calls himself 'Pani Da Rakha'. These people ignored the interests of the state for their personal political interests and that is why the people of the state have given them complete control over them." Kind of rejected." Taking aim at the Akali Dal's 'Punjab Bachao Yatra', he said, "The real name of this drama is 'Parivar Bachao Yatra'. After looting the state for 15 years, from whom are they trying to save the state?"
Reiterating his government's commitment to the border area residents, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "The Punjab government is doing everything possible for the welfare of the border area residents, who are true patriots of the country." He said that in a big relief to the farmers of the border areas of Punjab, the Central Government has given in-principle approval to shift the border fence closer to the International Border, which will pave the way for farming in thousands of acres of fields beyond the fence without any hindrance.
He said, "For a long time, farmers have been forced to cross the fence to reach their fields by showing their identity cards under the protection of the Border Security Force and on the 532 km India-Pakistan border, where this fence has been installed deep inside the territory of Punjab, they are facing difficulties every day." Reiterating his stance on water sharing, the Chief Minister said, "Punjab has no surplus water to give to any other state and no one will be allowed to take even a single drop of water from the state." He further said, "The issues of Sutlej Yamuna Link can be resolved only through Yamuna Sutlej Link, which will ensure proper utilization of Yamuna water. Punjab has no surplus water to give to any state and the question of giving water does not arise."
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "Despite having water from its own rivers, Punjab ignores its water needs and gives almost 60 percent of its water to meet the needs of states through which the Ravi-Beas and Sutlej rivers do not pass. The water of Punjab's rivers is divided among the sister states, while only Punjab has to bear the losses due to floods and heavy financial burden every year." "The interests of the state and its people are paramount and there can be no compromise in this matter," he said. Attacking the Akali leadership, he said, "Those who cannot even get 11 members to form their party committee are dreaming of winning 117 seats in the state."
He further said, "These leaders promoted gangsters in the state and by protecting drug peddlers pushed the youth of the state into the quagmire of drugs. Even today, they are promoting gangsters and one of them was fielded on a party ticket during the Tarn Taran by-election." Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "Akali Dal is a party of politically ineffective leaders who have been rejected by the people time and again. They may misuse religion, but people will not fall into their trap. People will never forgive them for their sins and will teach them a lesson again." He further said, "People had elected him again and again, but he backstabbed the state. He misused religion for his personal political interests, so he cannot be forgiven."
“Traditional political parties are jealous of him because they cannot tolerate that a son from an ordinary family is running the state well,” he said. He said that people have lost faith in such parties. He said, "The previous governments cared more about their families than about Punjab and Punjabis and that is why people showed them the way out of power. They start spewing venom against me early in the morning because I have shown their real face in front of the people." Taking another taunt, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Congress and Akalis have only a four-point agenda, under which they want to ensure the goodness of their sons, nephews and brothers-in-law.”
The Chief Minister said, "The AAP government is using every single penny of the exchequer responsibly for the welfare of the people. More than 90 percent of the houses are getting free electricity and farmers are getting electricity even during the day, which is a unique example." He further said that at a time when the Central Government is distributing the country's wealth to its beneficiaries at low rates, the Punjab Government has created history by purchasing a private thermal plant.
Throwing light on health security, he said, “881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened to provide free healthcare and good healthcare services are being made permanent in government hospitals.” He said that the state government has launched Mukhyamantri Sehat Bima Yojana, which provides cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh to every family living in Punjab.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is the first state in India which has provided such a huge healthcare coverage, due to which the financial burden on the people has reduced to a great extent and good services have also been provided. This historic step aims to provide complete healthcare to all families.” He further said that more than 63,000 government jobs have been given to the youth without any bribe or recommendation.
Referring to the fight against drugs, the Chief Minister said, “Previous governments had encouraged the drug mafia, but our government has started the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ war against drugs.” “Proper planning has been done to end this menace and the war has begun in full swing,” he added. “Apart from stopping the supply of drugs, big fish have been put behind bars and assets of drug smugglers are being confiscated.”
Making the appeal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "There is a need to make this campaign a wave with the active cooperation of the people. The day is not far when with the cooperation of the people, Punjab will become a completely drug-free state." He reiterated the commitment of the state government for the welfare of every section of the society and progress of Punjab.
On this occasion, Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljeet Kaur and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian were also present.
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