DW BUREAU / Dhuri

Calling the new land pooling scheme as "pro-farmer" and "development oriented", Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Monday, urged the people not to get swayed away with the misleading propaganda spread by the opposition parties in the state.

Addressing the gathering after disbursing developing grants of Rs 31.30 crore among 70 villages in the Dhuri Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister hit out at the Opposition for hoodwinking facts to misinform the people about this scheme for vested political interests.

He also said that there will be no forcible acquisition of land under the land pooling scheme and it will benefit the farmers of the state.

Chief Minister Mann said that people are aware of the dubious character of the opposition leaders who have backstabbed the people of Punjab on several issues.

The Chief Minister added that the land pooling is aimed at creating a perennial source of income for farmers and making them an active partner in growth and progress of the state.

He said that no forcible acquisition of land will be done in the state and only those farmers who will agree under the policy will give their land.

Chief Minister Mann said that as per the policy, the farmers will get commercial and residential plots in the scheme.

He added that the commercial property in the planned colonies to be carved out in this land pooling scheme will be a permanent asset for the farmers for their income.

He said that the policy is aimed at giving impetus to the overall growth, adding that this scheme will benefit every common man by giving a major boost to the overall development of the state.

Chief Minister Mann assured everyone that no land will be forcibly taken and all development on acquired land will proceed in a legal and transparent manner.

Envisioning that the 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' will act as a catalyst to eradicate the menace of drugs from the state, the Chief Minister said, adding that under the campaign, the state government has already broken the backbone of the drugs.

He said that big fishes involved in drug trade have already been jailed and people can see a proof of it in the Nabha Jail.

Chief Minister Mann added that this crackdown against drugs will continue in the coming days, too, till this menace is completely eradicated from the state.

The Chief Minister said that the public money has been distributed to panchayats for the judicious use to give fillip to the development of the segment. He said that none of the previous governments had ever bothered to release such a huge amount of money for the welfare of the people and holistic development of the villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there is no shortage of funds with the state government to give impetus to the development of the villages.

The Chief Minister said that during earlier regimes the funds were allocated on paper and subsequently the work was also done on paper only. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now all the villages of the Dhuri assembly segment will be developed as model villages. He asked the Panchayats to ensure quality development work in the villages for which regular monitoring by them should be done.

The Chief Minister said that it is the bounden duty of the state government to ensure the well being of the people and give fillip to development of the villages. He said that the previous governments never bothered about making any effort to save the groundwater and the farmers at the tail ends, on this land of five rivers, never got water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said after assuming charge the AAP government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that his government has provided free power to households after which 90% of them are getting free power. He said that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened across the state where more than three crore patients have got free treatment. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has given government jobs to more than 55,000 youth completely on the basis of merit.

The Chief Minister said that till now 18 Toll plazas have been closed in the state adding that with the closing of these toll plazas Rs 64 lakh is being saved from the pocket of the common man in Punjab daily. He said that Punjab has launched the country's first dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force (Road Safety Force) to enhance highway safety and it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that fatality rate in road accidents has decreased by more than 48% since its launch. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the force has specially recruited and trained personnel, including women, and is equipped with 144 modern vehicles.

(editor@dailyworld.in)