66TH REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS: Hansi-Butana canal would be made operational-Khattar

New Delhi, January 26, 2015: The Haryana Government has set for itself a target to increase water connections in rural households from 30 per cent to 50 per cent by the end of 2017, and ensure increased water supply of 135 LPCD every day in all the 77 towns of the state in the next five years. Presently, only 41 towns are getting 135 LPCD water supply.

This was announced by the Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, while speaking after unfurling the National Flag on the occasion of the state level Republic Day celebrations in Kaithal, today. The State Government plans to set up sewerage treatment plants and lay sewerage pipelines in every town in the next five years. Earlier, he took the salute from the armed police, home guards, NCC, girl guides and a contingent of the women police.

The Chief Minister announced Rs 2.5 lakh for the school children who participated in the cultural programmes and holiday on January 27 in all schools of the state. He also announced Rs one lakh for each group of the Haryana Police personnel who participated in the march-past and motorcycle daredevil event at the R-Day celebrations. Besides, the Chief Minister said that 500 new motorcycles would be given to the Police Department.  Paying glowing tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs, he said the people of Haryana were not far behind in sacrificing their lives while protecting the unity and integrity of the country. He also honoured freedom fighters, war widows, school children, panchayats and others for their distinguish works.

Congratulating the people on this occasion,  Manohar Lal said that the state government planned to widen and strengthen the roads connecting villages and districts. All main roads connecting district headquarters would be four-laned or made 10-metre wide. A survey of the proposed 200-km Bawana-Sonipat-Panipat-Uchana-Indri Yamunanagar Expressway  along the Western Yamuna canal will be carried out. Besides, work on four-laning of the National Highway 73 between Yamunagar and Panchkula would start soon as tenders have been invited. Six toll barriers have been discontinued in deference tio the wishes of the people. The government also plans to extend Metro link from Faridabad to Ballabhgarh and from Faridabad to Gurgaon.

Reiterating his commitment to bring about qualitative changes in education from primary to higher level, the Chief Minister said that quality, research and innovations would be promoted in the educational institutions where e-libraries would be set up. Besides, universities would be developed as international level centres of learning. Desks would be provided in all schools by 2016 and toilets would be constructed under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyann.

Directions have been issued to ensure transparency in the recruitment process. Interview marks would not be more than 10 per cent and recruitment would be done on the basis of written examination and merit. The government has also adopted a new model for police recruitment and selection would be on the basis of physical test and written examination.

Favourable atmosphere is being created for growth of business and the inspector raaj would be done away with. “We are working on ‘Make in Haryana’ campaign following the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision ‘Make in India’. A new industrial policy is being framed in consultation with the stakeholders. Manufacturing sector would be given boost in this policy”, he said. Rules and procedures would be simplified for industrial approvals to make them investment-friendly and single-window system would be adopted to minimize the paper work. Micro, small and medium enterprises have comprehensive capability to provide employment. The online service for filing of entrepreneur memorandum has been introduced mainly to help the entrepreneurs to obtain acknowledgement.

Describing good governance as a key feature of development, the Chief Minister said that the state government had adopted the principle of minimum government-maximum governance. The social security pensions have been raised from Rs1,000 to Rs.1,200 per month and it has been decided to enhance these by Rs 200 every year for the next five years. CM web portal and CM window have been launched to ensure transparency and accountability. Besides, online registry has been started in eight tehsils.

Manohar Lal said the priorities of the state government priorities include ensuring infrastructure development, profitable agriculture, expansion of health and educational facilities, industrial growth, women’s empowerment, good governance, transparency and end to corruption. The process to set up a medical university in Kutail village in Karnal has been started and a horticultural university would also be set up in the state. He assured the farmers that the Satluj Yamuna Link canal would definitely be constructed and the state would get its share of water from Ravi-Byas. In addition, Hansi-Butana canal would also be made operational.

Tableaux of Cooperative Sugarmill, Kaithal, State Transport Department and District Rural and Development Agency (DRDA) at the R-Day parade bagged the first, second and third prize, respectively.

Those present included MP Raj Kumar Saini, MLAs Jai Parkash,  Kulwant Bajigar, Dinesh Kaushik, OSD (Media) Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, freedom fighters, war widows and officers of district administration./(SK Vyas/Jalandhar)