category Regional, ludhiana, , tags Regional, ludhiana, , DW BUREAU Ludhiana Reiterating the firm commitment of the government to clean Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday dedicated sewage treatment plant (STP) and other projects of Rs 315.50 for cleaning and rejuvenation of the drain. The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering during dedication of Punjab s biggest STP here, expressed concern over the polluted Buddha Nullah, adding this was the result of the callousness of successive governments of the state. Mann said he had been raising this issue as a Member of Parliament too because the polluted water from the drain mixes with the Satluj river and causes havoc in other parts of state too. He said the villages in Jalalabad (Fazilka) were worst affected by it but the former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who represented Jalalabad never did anything to solve this problem resulting in miseries for the people. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the newly constructed STP with capacity of 225 MLD will be instrumental in the cleaning of the Buddha Nullah in the city. He said this will act as a catalyst in checking the water pollution in this nullah which was flowing in the heart of the city. Mann said 14 km of the nullah crosses from within the city, adding a detailed project has been chalked out for its cleaning. The detailed project has been chalked out at a cost of Rs 650 crore under AMRUT and Smart City scheme. He said as per the funding pattern, the state government is spending Rs 392 crore on this project whereas the Central government is giving a matching grant of Rs 258 crore. Mann said that on Monday, projects worth Rs 315.50 crore, including STP with 225 MLD capacity and others, were dedicated to the people. The Chief Minister further said that corruption was the enemy of Punjab and its people adding that his government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against the corrupt elements in the state. He said that his government has started a crusade against corruption due to which the leaders of corrupt parties are hatching conspiracies against him. Bhagwant Mann said that baffled by this drive, the corrupt leaders are stooping too low by passing derogatory personal comments against him but this will not deter him from wiping out corruption from the state. The Chief Minister reiterated that anyone who had plundered the money of Punjab and its people will be made accountable for his sins against the state. He said that the corrupt elements will be put behind the bars and will not be spared at any cost. Bhagwant Mann solicited fulsome support and cooperation from the people in the tirade of the state government against the corruption. Talking about the Sarkar Aapke Dwaar scheme, the Chief Minister said that it is aimed at ensuring that the officers especially the Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners maximize their field visits, especially in villages, and interact with the people by going to villages. He said that it is the need of the hour to facilitate the people in getting their day-to-day works done easily besides ensuring good governance to them. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in better functioning of the offices along with better acquaintance with the ground realities. The Chief Minister said that the state government has fulfilled the guarantee of giving 300 units of free electricity per month from July 1. He said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that 87 of the households in the state have zero electricity bills in the months of November-December, 2022. Bhagwant Mann said that he hails from a common family and knows well what are the problems being faced by them. The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the state has not even a single drop of surplus water to share with any other state. He said that there is no question of initiating the work on SYL as it is not in the interest of the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann reiterated the firm commitment of his government to safeguard the interests of the state at all costs. The Chief Minister also assailed the traditional parties of the state for working against the interests of the state. He said that these parties connived with the toll and sand mafia to extend largesse to them by backstabbing the people of state. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government has shut the toll plazas who s term has expired adding that 33 public mines have been dedicated to people for ensuring cheap availability of sand to people. (editor dailyworld.in)