Deputy CM concerned over cleanliness status of Amritsar

Expressing dissatisfaction over the cleanliness status of Amritsar, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday directed officials to address the issue at the earliest.

Speaking during the monthly review meeting of development projects of the city in which he shifted the focus from the multi-crore macro projects to the basic needs of the people, Badal ordered immediate redressal of the issue.

Mayor municipal corporation Bakshiram Arora informed the deputy chief minister that the Local body is fully aware of the cleanliness issue and has outlined a detailed plan for the same.

Arora said that as per this plan, the area within the municipal limits of the city would be divided into three segments and the cleanliness process would be initiated in a phase-wise manner with special dust suckers, according to an official release.

Badal ordered immediate tendering out of the project so that the work may commence at the earliest.

He also directed commissioner, municipal corporation to obtain heavy machines for opening up the choked sewerages of
the city before the onset of monsoons.

Taking serious note of the dried up tube wells, Deputy CM directed the MC commissioner and Improvement Trust chairman to assess the status of existing tubewells and initiate necessary steps to ensure regular water supply to the people.

He also directed chief engineer Powercom to accord top priority in issuing power connections for the tube wells.

He directed the concerned Superintendent engineer to expedite the 2,600 mm sewerage laying work on the Ram Tirath road and also ordered to fix a special meeting with the contractor of the project so that hitches, if any, may be resolved.

Earlier, Sukhbir paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, along with his wife and union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Answering media queries, Badal said that criticism of International Yoga Day celebrations from some quarters is uncalled for.

He said that yoga is a scientifically proven method of physical fitness.

"Health and fitness related issue should not be given any unnecessary religious or political connotation," he said.

He also refuted opposition Congress' allegations that a pick and choose policy was adopted in inviting political leaders for the 350 years of celebrations of foundation day of Sri Anandpur Sahib yesterday and made it clear that Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had personally invited the entire Punjab leadership to the occasion.

Accusing the ruling Akali Dal of partisan politics, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh had yesterday questioned the alleged selective invitation to leaders for participating in the function at Sri Anandpur Sahib.