TIMBER MARKET TO BE SETUP AT BALACHOUR

Chandigarh, September 12, 2012:   Punjab to chalk out a joint action plan involving Forest, Public Health and Irrigation departments for the development of Kandi area in a holistic manner.

A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a high level meeting held here late last evening.

Taking part in the deliberations, Badal directed the top brass of these departments to immediately depute one officer each to be designated as Project Officer for ensuring responsive and proper coordination between all the concerned departments to carry out various development works like provision of drinking water, sewerage, electricity, irrigation, road network etc. facilities under this joint venture.

On informing that the Forest Department had delisted 1.4 lakh acres of cultivated and inhabited area falling under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) in the Kandi, the Chief Minister asked the department to examin ways and means for exempting more area in the region from the ambit of PLPA as it had badly affected the overall development as well as the economic growth of this sub-mountainous region. 

On the occasion, Badal also announced to setup a Timber Market at Balachour for which modalities would be chalked out soon. He also informed that Under Kandi Canal Stage-I project, government would undertake the work of laying of underground irrigation pipes in this area. He directed the Irrigation department to expedite the survey work so that the project could be completed in the current fiscal year. He further said that to introduce Drip Irrigation and Sprinkler systems for irrigation more sites would be identified to construct check dams in Kandi area.

Regarding afforestation, Badal said that it should be adopted in such a manner that it could develop simultaneously with the agricultural activities in the area. 

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Irrigation KBS Sidhu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest HS Gujral, Deputy Commissioner Hoshiarpur Dipinder Singh, MD Milkfed Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director Agriculture Mangal Singh Sandhu, Chief Engineer Kandi Area Development Harvinder Singh and Chairman-cum-MD Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. KD Chaudhary.