Patiala, March 30: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accelerated the “Shandaar Char Saal” development agenda on Monday by announcing a series of road and water conservation projects in Sanaur. The Chief Minister stated that ₹49.60 crore has been specifically allocated for link roads within the constituency, while the main Patiala-Pehowa road is slated to become a four-lane highway.
In addition to transport infrastructure, the Chief Minister highlighted the government’s success in rejuvenating the state’s canal system. He affirmed that 18,349 watercourses, spanning 6,900 km, have been revived to ensure water reaches the tail ends of fields. Mann stated that ₹6,500 crore has been spent on this rejuvenation, benefiting 1,444 villages that previously lacked canal water access.
“Our government is accounting for every single drop of water,” Mann declared. He asserted that the current administration’s focus on education and health is the true “panacea” for social ills, noting that Punjab recently surpassed Kerala to rank first in the National Achievement Survey.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of the Sadak Surakhiya Force (SSF), noting that road fatalities have dropped by 48 percent since the force was established last February. He maintained that the 144 fully equipped vehicles and nearly 1,600 trained personnel provide a backbone of safety on 4,200 kilometers of high-risk highways.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister affirmed that the state’s tax revenue is being judiciously spent on public welfare, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas which has saved the public ₹64 lakh daily. He stated that the government remains committed to its “Yudh Nashean Virudh” campaign, ensuring that youth are provided with employment opportunities to steer them away from social evils.
