DW Bureau  |Sangrur: Setting a new benchmark in public service delivery, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday dedicated an ultra-modern multi-storey subdivisional complex constructed in a record time of 18 months at a cost of Rs 10.45 crore. 

Dedicating the building, the Chief Minister said he had laid the foundation stone of this project in May 2023 and it has been completed in a record time span. He said the project, spread over nine acres, will benefit the masses by delivering them citizen-centric services in a time-bound manner.

CM Mann said such modern tehsil complexes were being built across the state to facilitate the people, adding that the earlier governments had never paid any heed to such initiatives to serve the people in a better manner.

“Previously the rein of the state was in the wrong hands due to which the state had suffered adversely,” he claimed.

However, Mann said ever since assuming the charge of the Chief Minister’s office, his government has been according top priority to works of immense public importance.

Announcing that such buildings were being constructed while keeping in view the future needs of people, he said the government saved Rs 1.5 crore while constructing this building against the estimated cost.

CM Mann said in the same manner, the Subdivisional complex in Cheeme was under construction and would be dedicated to the people soon.

He said it is a matter of pride and satisfaction for him that so far 49,427 government jobs have been provided to youth and 700 more will be given at a programme in Patiala on December 3.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these youth have got jobs completely on the basis of merit. He said that the entire recruitment process has been carried on in a fair and transparent manner.

CM Mann said that due to this reverse migration is being witnessed in Punjab as youth are leaving foreign land to join government jobs in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that transparent recruitment has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here. 

He said that it is on record that contrary to the earlier trend of moving abroad, the educational institutions in the state are witnessing a huge surge in admissions by the youth.

He said that the state government is working zealously to facilitate the people and in one such initiative a complete facelift is being given to rural roads. He said that these Link Roads act as a catalyst in commuting besides smooth transportation of the goods and services to people adding that these link roads give impetus to the economic growth of the state and facilitate the people residing in rural areas. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann underlined the need for construction of these roads as majority of them have remained unattended even after passing their life of six years.

CM Mann said that at the time he assumed the charge of office only 21% canal water was being used in the state. However, he said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today 84% of the canal water is being used for irrigation purposes. 

He said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government the ground water level has started increasing and as per a report of the Union government it has witnessed an upward enhancement of one metre. 

The Chief Minister exhorted the farmers to adopt crop diversification by coming out of the rut of wheat/ paddy circle. He said that the Union government must give MSP to the farmers on alternate crops to boost the crop diversification. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that the state contributes 180 lakh Metric Ton  rice in the national food pool thereby ensuring food security in the country.

However, the Chief Minister said that after taking the grains from the state, the farmers of Punjab are blamed for creating pollution by paddy straw burning. He said that this is unwarranted and undesirable as the hard working and resilient farmers of the state have played a key role in making the country self-sufficient in food production. 

CM Mann said that health, education, power, water and infrastructure are top five priorities of his government. He said that these facilities are not free of cost as the people pay hefty amounts in the form of taxes, adding that the state government has only repaid money to the public in the form of these facilities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that earlier this money was going to the houses of politicians but now it is being used for public service.

Taking a jibe at opposition, the Chief Minister said that the results of by-polls have proved that the people have full faith in the state. He said that the wise people of state have ousted the political leaders indulging in theatrics and have chosen those who are their well wishers. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family.

He said that these leaders who believed that they have divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently. He said that these leaders have befooled the people since long time but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a fact that these convent educated political leaders are not even aware of the basic ground realities of the state.

Earlier, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries.