Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh/Bathinda-
"Various movements waged for the country's independence and the struggles of the revolutionary martyrs and freedom fighters have made us a independent nation and we take pride that during the country's independence struggle, Punjabis made the maximum sacrifices", said Punjab Water Resources, Mining and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, while addressing the residents of Bathinda after hoisting the tricolour at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium to mark the 79th Independence day. He was accompanied by by MLA Bathinda (Urban) S. Jagroop Singh Gill, MLA Bathinda (Rural) Sh. Amit Ratan Kotfatta, MLA Bhucho Mandi Master Jagseer Singh and DIG Bathinda Range S. Harjeet Singh.
Earlier, Goyal, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmed Parray, SSP Bathinda Amneet Kondal and Parade Commander DSP Ishan Singla, inspected the magnificent parade and took salutation from the march past.
While addressing the gathering, the Cabinet Minister said that after taking charge of the office, CM hagwant Singh Mann not only took oath at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, but also decided to install portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the architect of the constitution Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in government offices.
Highlighting the achievements, he said that Punjab has achieved the best performance in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024, securing first position by surpassing states like Kerala. To further elevate educational standards, 118 Schools of Eminence have been established. Under the "Sikhya Kranti," infrastructure development projects worth Rs.2,000 crores have been dedicated in 12,000 government schools across the state.
He said that the 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state are providing first-class healthcare services to the people, where 107 types of medicines and 47 types of lab tests are conducted free of cost. Soon, 200 more Aam Aadmi Clinics will be opened, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that so far, 3.69 crores patients have received free treatment worth approximately Rs.1650 crores in these clinics.
He announced that the government will provide health cards under the "Chief Minister Sehat Yojana" to all Punjabis, offering cashless treatment up to Rs.10 lakh per family. This scheme will be implemented from October 2, 2025.
He said that under "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, free treatment of drug-affected patients is being provided at 55 de-addiction centers and 548 de-addiction medicine centers across the state. The Mann government has driven out drug smugglers from the state, made over 25,000 arrests and demolished houses of drug smugglers, proving that there is no place for drug dealers in Punjab.
As an exemplary initiative to prevent cross-border drug smuggling, CM Mann and AAP's National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal recently launched the anti-drone system "Baaz Akkh," making Punjab the first state in the country to deploy this system on the international border, he added.
Listing significant achievements of Water Resources Department, the Cabinet Minister informed that our government has undertaken comprehensive water infrastructure projects that mark a transformative phase in Punjab's irrigation and water supply systems. The Luther Canal System near the Pakistan border in Fazilka has been a priority initiative, addressing the critical water needs of border areas that have remained underserved for decades. This strategic project not only enhances agricultural productivity but also strengthens the economic foundation of our border regions, ensuring that farmers in these sensitive areas receive adequate water supply for their crops.
In Tarn Taran district, we have successfully restored 23 canals after a gap of 30-40 years, reviving an irrigation network that forms the backbone of the region's agricultural economy, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that these canals had fallen into disrepair over the decades, leaving thousands of farmers struggling with inadequate water supply.
He said that the Kandi area of Hoshiarpur district has witnessed massive infrastructure rehabilitation with the repair of approximately 1800 kms of underground pipeline. This extensive network overhaul has transformed water accessibility in one of Punjab's most geographically challenging regions, where traditional irrigation methods had proven insufficient.
He said that our commitment to reaching every corner of Punjab is evident in the identification and implementation of 28 new lift schemes specifically designed to provide water supply to untouched and remote Kandi areas of Rupnagar and Hoshiarpur districts. These schemes show a targeted approach to addressing water inequality, with 15 schemes already operational and providing immediate relief to communities that had limited access to clean water. The remaining projects are progressing according to schedule and will complete the comprehensive coverage of these challenging terrains.
For the first time since independence, we have undertaken the monumental task of capacity enhancement for major canals including the Sirhind Channel and Patiala Feeder. This historic achievement shows a quantum leap in Punjab's irrigation infrastructure, significantly increasing the water carrying capacity and improving distribution efficiency across vast agricultural areas. The project required extensive planning, substantial financial investment and coordination with multiple stakeholders to ensure minimal disruption to existing water supply during the enhancement process, he added.
He informed that the completion of the long-stalled Sirhind Feeder Channel re-lining project stands as a testament to our administration's commitment to resolving infrastructure challenges that had plagued the system for years. This project had remained incomplete due to various administrative and technical hurdles, but our focused approach and dedicated resource allocation have finally brought it to successful completion, ensuring improved water flow and reduced seepage losses.