LS byelection ahead, Capt doles out sops in Gurdaspur

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 16

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced a number of projects for areas falling under the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency during his Independence Day speech.

After unfurling the National Flag at the Government College stadium, the CM, in his 25-minute speech, doled out sops for people of Batala, Gurdaspur, Qadian, Dinanagar, Pathankot, Fatehgarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak and Dhariwal. The development assumes significance in the wake of upcoming Gurdaspur parliamentary bypoll.

“Since I am in Gurdaspur, it will only be appropriate on my part to give you some important things,” said Amarinder, who became the first CM to unfurl the Tricolour in Gurdaspur in 70 years.

Amarinder announced the setting up of a sainik school at Dalla Gorian village and a Rs 20-crore state-of-the-art bus stand in Gurdaspur.

He said his government had sanctioned a grant of Rs 118 crore to improve school infrastructure in the district. “To upgrade health facilities in Gurdaspur, Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned, while Rs 84 crore has been given to the rural development department to build toilets in the constituency,” he said.

“I have learnt that for the last few years following a technical problem, large parts of Gurdaspur town have to go without power for long periods of time. I have instructed power board officials to ensure that not even a single colony of Gurdaspur remains without power,” he said.

He also spoke about giving Rs 2,000-crore boost to Pathankot by setting up the Shivalik-Dhauladhar tourism project.

“Cola manufacturer PEPSICO has agreed to set up a bottling plant in Pathankot city. It will solve the unemployment problem of the area to some extent. The town will also get a Rs 67-crore urban facelift,” he said.

The CM also announced that the degree college, constructed at Kalanaur, would start soon. It was a long-pending demand of the residents and was even made an election promise by Dera Baba Nanak Congress MLA SS Randhawa. Kalanaur falls in the Dera Baba Nanak Assembly seat.

Amarinder also announced a grant of Rs 7.5 crore for improving water supply and sanitation facilities in Fatehgarh Churian where a Navodaya Vidyalaya will also be established.