Minister announces 100-bed hospital upgrade in Dera Bassi

Punjab Minister for Mines & Geology, Soil & Water Conservation and Water Resources, Advocate Barinder Kumar Goyal, unfurled the national flag at Shaheed Major Harminderpal Singh (Shaurya Chakra) Government College in Mohali on Republic Day. The minister also took the salute from the marchpast and enjoyed cultural performances presented by the students. Around 1,500 students participated in the Republic Day celebrations at the college.

While saluting the freedom fighters, Goyal stressed the CM Bhagwant Mann-led government is dedicated to transforming state in line with the true spirit of the Constitution. He highlighted several ongoing and upcoming government projects, including a 150-kilometre canal being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,300 crore to irrigate two lakh acres of land across Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Sri Muktsar Sahib. Additionally, work is underway on three canals in Pathankot to supply irrigation water to the area for the first time. Furthermore, Rs 2,100 crore worth of projects for repairs and re-lining of water sources have already been initiated.

Goyal also mentioned the successful introduction of the Punjab Miner Minerals Policy 2023, which has seen 74 public sites auctioned, with another 100 sites set to be auctioned soon to generate additional revenue for the state.

Addressing mediapersons, Goyal highlighted the potential for potash deposits in southern Punjab, which, when extracted, would contribute to the state’s revenue.

The minister also outlined significant sports infrastructure upgrades for Mohali, including the installation of an eight-lane, 400-metre synthetic track at the Multipurpose Stadium in Sector 78 at a cost of Rs 9.19 crore. The Senior Balbir Singh International Hockey Stadium would receive a new global-standard astroturf for Rs 3.13 crore, and the sports indoor halls at Sector 63 and 78 stadiums will be fitted with PU flooring. Goyal further announced plans to upgrade the ESI dispensary in Kharar to a 30-bed hospital and the dispensary in Dera Bassi to a 100-bed hospital.

Goyal inspected the Republic Day parade alongside Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain and SSP Deepak Pareek, with Parade Commander Preet Kanwar Singh, a DSP of the 2022 batch, leading the event.

To commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers, five Veer Naris, widows of army martyrs, were also felicitated for their service to the nation.