High Court verdict on water issue moral victory for state, says Mann
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the ongoing issue of release of water by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to Haryana was a moral victory for the state.
Addressing the gathering here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said the court had sought reply from all stakeholders on May 20. He said Haryana that had already exhausted its share of water for the current year would be eligible for the same by May 21.
Mann said: “It was a huge win for the state as we have been able to defend our share of water, despite all the might applied by the Centre, Haryana and the BBMB.”
The Chief Minister categorically said the state does not have even a single drop of water to share with other states and his government had saved the water of the state which was being stolen by Haryana.
He said as most of the river resources of the state had dried up, it needs more water to cater to its irrigation needs.
He said the Union Government, Haryana and BBMB forgot one thing that if the state was capable of protecting the borders of the country, it could save the waters of Punjab too.
Meanwhile, while addressing a gathering, he said the state government was going to open eight UPSC centres in the state and Ludhiana would also get one where UPSC aspirants would get help for the preparation of the exam. Mann was here to inaugurate various development works on Wednesday.
“The UPSC centre will also provide facility of a hostel, full-fledged library and other necessary help so that aspirants can crack the exam and become IAS/IPS officers. Among the eight proposed centres, Ludhiana has also been chosen as the city has an old association with me,” he said.
The CM also inaugurated a bridge on the Buddha Dariya, a box cricket stadium and a newly constructed auditorium in Ambedkar Hall in Salem Tabri in the presence of North MLA Madan Lal Bagga.
Slamming Union Minister for State Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Chief Minister on Wednesday said this rejected leader spits venom against him just to appease his political bosses. While taking Bittu to cudgels, he said though the Union Minister hails from Ludhiana but he had done nothing substantial for the development of the city.
He said Bittu wakes up in the morning and starts criticising him from that very moment just to make his party bosses happy.
In a major step aimed at giving further fillip to the overall development of Ludhiana, the Chief Minister gave a bonanza worth Rs 13 crore in form of various development projects to residents of the district.
To promote sports in the state by augmenting sports infrastructure, the Chief Minister dedicated an ultra modern playground at the Salem Tabri locality with a total covered area of 5187.50 sq ft. The playground has been equipped with state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and can be duly used for playing games such as cricket, basketball, handball and badminton and was equipped with facilities of camera recording and flood lights. The ground has been constructed at a cost of Rs 26 lakh and will act as a catalyst to channelise the energy of youth in a positive direction.
The Chief Minister also dedicated the newly constructed auditorium-cum-training and research centre at Dr Ambedkar Bhawan near the Jalandhar bypass chowk. The ultramodern auditorium has been constructed at a cost of Rs 4.30 crore and will offer a platform to residents for holding their functions.
Meanwhile, in a major relief to commuters, the CM also dedicated the high-level Bridge (72.40m) over the Buddha Nullah near Chand Cinema, here. Constructed over a cost of Rs 8.16 crore, the bridge will play a key role in easing out traffic in the industrial city, besides providing a much-needed succor to the people.
Ludhiana