34 model playgrounds to come up at Ajnala

Former cabinet minister and MLA from Ajnala Assembly constituency Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today announced that model playgrounds will be laid across 34 villages in the Ajnala border belt. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has released a grant of Rs 10.34 crore for this purpose and the money will spent on development of sports in these villages.

Ajnala, which falls right along the India-Pakistan international border, is among the most underdeveloped constituencies in Punjab. Marred by drug addiction, a direct result of cross-border drug trade prevalent in the area, and lack of basic infrastructure, the villages falling within a radius of 10-20 km of the international border (IB) are the most affected.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, while announcing the development, said that healthy youth are the biggest asset for a country and the state. Blaming previous governments for lack of vision, he said, “They allegedly patronised drug consumption, which took the youth away from sports and productive engagement. Our government has opened the closed doors of employment for the youth on the basis of merit, by giving them a chance to take up sports. We are focused on all-round development of quality education, including sports. Further development of playgrounds will help the youth take up sports and will also act as nurseries from where big players of the state, national and international level will be born. I am hopeful that they will make their families, state and Ajnala shine at the national and international level.”

Out of the amount released for model playgrounds, Rs 33.94 lakh was allocated for village Batth, Rs 23.96 lakh for Bhoewali, Rs 43.43 lakh for Chamiari, Rs 40.14 lakh for Dhariwal Kaler, Rs 33.83 lakh for Gujarpura, Rs 34.88 lakh for Jagdev Khurd, Rs 34.87 lakh for Kamalpura, Rs 36.9 lakh for Kiampura, Rs 17. 96 lakh for Nangal Vanjan Wala, Rs 33.26 lakh for Rokhhe, Rs 28.74 lakh for Sarang Dev, Rs 40.91 lakh for Tera Kala, Rs 30.97 lakh for Tera Khurd, Rs 6.89 lakh for Ramdas near Awan. Rs 35.2 lakh at Chak Sikander, Rs 24.79 lakh at Ghone Wala, Rs 35.52 lakh at Karalayan, Rs 21.96 lakh at Makowal, Rs 26.9 lakh at Mohan Bhandarian, Rs 39.6 lakh at Nasar, Rs 41.44 lakh at Talwandi Nahar, Rs 30.6 lakh at Thoba, Rs 48.7 lakh at Vichhoa, Rs 17.02 lakh at Chetanpura, Rs 33.71 lakh at Dudhrai, Rs 6.6 lakh at Ghukka Wali, Rs 35.46 lakh at Jhander, Rs 15.85 lakh at Kandowali, Rs 23.83 lakh at Khatraekala, Rs 22.26 lakh at Lashkari Nangal, Rs 39.74 lakh at Mahila, Rs 41.1 lakh at Sangatpura and Rs 38.78 lakh at Sensra, Ugar.

New playgrounds will be constructed at Aulakh at a cost of Rs 15.43 lakh.