Punjab News- Punjab to be most preferred state for investment- Badal

Moga/ Baghapurana, September 17, 2013: As a part of the extensive development plan formulated by the Punjab government to ensure overall improvement in the state especially in urban areas, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal today inaugurated Sewerage Treatment Plant worth Rs. 27 crore at Moga and Tehsil Administrative Complex worth 4.45 crore at Baghapurana.

Addressing a huge gathering at Baghapurana, Badal said that Punjab would be the most preferred destination for investors in the coming two years.  Referring to the recent World Bank study declaring Punjab third most favored state for investment, Mr. Badal appreciated the matchless efforts of the Punjab government in assuring favourable investment atmosphere.

Adding further he said that various development projects worth Rs.1400 crore would be launched in the state in the coming four months.  To strengthen the road connectivity in Punjab all the major cities and towns in the state would be made 4/6 lane expressways  in the coming three years at a cost of Rs. 12000 crore.

To ensure over all development in the rural areas of the state, Badal said that an amount of 10,000 crore would be spent on various projects within next two years. The government has widened the ambit of Atta-Dal scheme by doubling the number of beneficiaries of this scheme from current 15 lakh to 30 lakh people.

Reiterating the Punjab government’s resolve to provide quality education to the students especially in rural areas, Badal said that the government has also launched Dr. Hargobind Khurana  scholarship scheme under which scholarship amounting Rs 30,000 per annum would be disbursed to the students for two year — for Class XI and XII —through e-transfer in their accounts.“Each student would receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 2500. There would be no income limit under this scheme. All students who secured 80 per cent or more would be entitled to this scholarship up to senior secondary level,” said Badal.

In a historical decision in keeping with the demands of the local residents, Badal announced Samalsar as a sub-tehsil while he announced a grant of Rs. 15 crore to Nagar Council Baghapurana for upgrading the sewerage systems besides announcing Rs. 75 Lakh for the the development of large villages of the area.

Later, Badal addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Sewerage Treatment Plant worth Rs. 27 Crore at Moga, said that the Punjab government has formulated an extensive plan to reinforce the overall development of the urban areas. Under this plan besides ensuring the basic infrastructure, rural water supply and sanitation, sewerage treatment plants, street lights road connectivity and other basic amenities would be ensured.

Talking to media, Badal said that the Punjab government has intensified its efforts to curb drug addiction amongst youth and would act tough with the persons involved in smuggling drugs howsoever influential he may be. He said that law and order would be maintained at every cost.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Member Parliament Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Joginder Pal Jain,MLA , Jathedar Tota Singh, Maheshinder Singh MLA and various leaders of SAD-BJP senior officers of district administration .