Troops of the Sikh Regiment click a selfie with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during his visit to the Tibri Cantonment in Gurdaspur district on Monday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced several development projects worth Rs 556.9 crore for the holy city. These included construction of roads, ROBs, railway under-bridges and a flyover.The Chief Minister also finalised Rs 3,000-crore World Bank-aided project to fulfil the rising demand for potable water in the city. The surface water scheme will replace the existing groundwater-based supply scheme. The project will address a serious concern of the region, which is facing severe depletion of the groundwater. Besides, the region is witnessing a surge in vector-borne diseases.The establishment of a Directorate of Fire Services at the state level in Amritsar, with 50 per cent reservation for women, is also the cards.Addressing a press conference here, the CM said the homeless would soon be given houses in both rural and urban areas. He said shamlat land in villages would be used for raising dwellings and pockets of lands in urban areas were being identified.

‘Major industries coming’

On the government’s promise of providing jobs to youth, he said 20 major industrial houses would soon kick off the process to set up industries in the state. The government would assist them in providing land and a job fest would also be held. He said a Chinese firm and Mahindra & Mahindra would soon establish electric car manufacturing units in the state.He was accompanied by Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP Gurjit Singh Aujla and leaders OP Soni, Raj Kumar Verka, Sunil Dutti, Harminder Singh Gill and Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala.‘SAD to blame for farm crisis’On suicide by farmers, Amarinder expressed regret and held the previous SAD-BJP government responsible for farm distress in the state. Amarinder claimed that about 7,000 farmers committed suicide during the 10-year rule of the previous government.The Chief Minister said there was a need to break the vicious paddy- wheat cycle to rescue the state’s farmers. “To achieve the objective, constant efforts are being made to learn techniques and technologies from Israel,” he said.

‘Minorities safe’

Amarinder refused to endorse the statement of former Vice-President Hamid Ansari that the minorities were unsafe in the country. He said minorities were not insecure either in Punjab or in the rest of the country.State holiday on Saragarhi DayGurdaspur: The state has declared a holiday on the occasion of Saragarhi Day on September 12 to commemorate the Battle of Saragarhi. This was announced by the CM while addressing troops of the 3rd battalion of the Sikh Regiment at Tibri Cantonment. Amarinder had dinner with the jawans. Earlier, the CM witnessed a pipe band display, bhangra and “gatka” performance and battalion presentation. He is in the city to participate in the state-level Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday. TNSFocus on holy city 

• The projects announced included the construction of roads from Amritsar-Bhikhiwind-Khem Karan Road and Mata Ganga Ji Marg connecting Amritsar-Jhabhal Road to Gurdwara Baba Budha
• An ROB at level crossing on the Amritsar-Mehta road at Vallah; ROB/RUB at Amritsar-Attari level line crossing from Putligar Chowk towards Pakistan; ROB/under bridge at Jaura railway crossing; flyover from Batala road to Majitha road at 4S Chowk; a unified tourism information and facilitation centre and multipurpose sports and recreation facility.
• Public toilets at 17 places, beautification works around the Sri Durgiana temple and construction of slip roads and redesigning of congested roundabouts are among other works.