Chandigarh: Directing the Tandrust Punjab Mission to be all encompassing, from ‘Kisan to Naujawan’, from farmers to youth, Suresh Kumar Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab said that along with the ongoing measures to guide the farmers it is necessary that Anti-Drugs Campaign and De-Addiction Monitoring be an integral part of the Tandarust Punjab Mission. He said that although the infrastructure is in place for the same still inter departmental coordination and checks are a must and Tandarust Punjab Mission should pay special attention to it.
Reviewing the progress of the Tandarust Punjab Mission and deliberating with the Secretaries of the concerned departments on the further course of action for the mission, CPS/CM said that to increase the green cover in the State it is mandatory that green component be a part of every upcoming construction in the State, be it roads, highways or buildings. He suggested framing guidelines for the same and ensuring dedicated ‘green budget’ in every construction. In the view of the ongoing plantation period, he suggested the focus of plantation be in the dry or relatively less greener areas like Muktsar, Budlada and Bhiki (Mansa). Developing parks under MGNREGA in the rural areas is also to be targeted under the Mission, said he.
Stressing upon the need to decongest the markets, he suggested to start ‘Changa Bazar , Changa Veopar’ campaign where in the shopkeepers be motivated to stop encroaching the pavements and the roads for the free movement of customers and convince them that de- congested and clean markets self attract buyers.
To check the reckless extraction and digging out underground water, Suresh Kumar suggested strict monitoring and also made it clear that “ quality testing of water be mandatory for anybody and everybody, even the government supply of water should be checked regularly to ensure potable water supply to all.” Automatic meter reading and volumetric tariff instead of flat rates as well as checking the purity/quality of raw water consumed by people by withdrawing water through digging of bores was also discussed.
He further informed that Tandarust Punjab Mission would be strengthened by providing a dedicated Technical Support Team of experts to the mission who would assist in the awareness drives with technical inputs. Notification for inducting the team is in the pipeline.
CPS/CM informed that to begin with the Forest Department would contribute Rs. 1 crore under IEC in the Tandarust Punjab Mission. He also informed that proposal for setting up the Mission Directorate would soon be presented before the Cabinet for approval.