Emphasizing upon the planned development of the cities as the key to ensure overall progress of the urban infrastructure, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday announced that Parks would come up across the entire State as sound health is of paramount importance owing to the fast changing lifestyles in modern era. He was responding to the demand put forward by the Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal for a park in Bathinda alongside Bathinda branch canal.The Chief Minister while greeting people on the occasion of Dussehra describing the festival as the symbol of triumph of good over evil, said that urban development is the focus area for him and he has a roadmap for the same which includes robust Sewerage system, spacious market places and parks. "The benefits of all the government schemes must reach down to the last beneficiary in a hassle free manner", added the Chief Minister.Dedicating Shaheed Sepoy Sandeep Singh memorial chowk at Paras Ram Nagar, to the public and paying floral tributes, the Chief Minister said that he feels blessed to meet the parents of the martyr who made supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation in Surankot (J&K) on August 2, 1999. "I particularly admire the armymen and the teachers as one carries the spirit of patriotism inside their hearts while the other builds the nation", said Channi.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal also greeted the people on Dussehra. Paying glowing tributes to the five soldiers martyred a few days ago in J&K, he said that although India is a peace loving country but gives a befitting reply to the enemy who considers it a weak nation. "The Sikh Regiment and Punjab are the crown of the Indian Army", said the Finance Minister while expressing deepest gratitude to the parents of the martyred soldiers. He also lauded the gesture of the Chief Minister for waiving off the arrears of electricity bills upto 2 KW load.Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of canal lining and the renovation work of the Bathinda branch at a cost of Rs. 30 crore. Besides, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of Balwant Gargi multipurpose auditorium at Rose Garden, Bathinda which would come up in 2 acre area at a cost of Rs. 27.15 crore having inside seating capacity of 928 and open air seating capacity of 120 and equipped with an art and exhibition hall, conference hall, seminar hall, cafeteria, state of the art sound system and picturesque internal design.The Chief Minister while visiting the special dengue ward set up at the meritorious school, enquired after the well being of the patients and expressed satisfaction at the healthcare facilities. He also laid the foundation stone of the new residence of the Finance Minister at Urban Estate Phase-1 and also paid a visit to the residence of the Deputy Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Ajaib Singh Bhatti.The dignitaries present on the occasion included Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, his Wife Veenu Badal, PCC Working President Pawan Goyal, Ex Ministers Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Chiranji Lal Garg, Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti,MLAs Pritam Singh Kotbhai and Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Principal Secretary to the CM Hussan Lal, Chairman District Planning Board Rajan Garg, Senior Congress leader Jai Jeet singh Johal, Ex MLA Harminder Singh Jassi, and Mayor Bathinda Raman Goyal.