Amid resentment against land pooling, CM Mann interacts with villagers in Ludhiana
Mann said that at the time he assumed office, only 21% of canal water was being used for irrigation but today that number has risen to 63%.
3 min read
CM interaction with villagers under a tree in Ludhiana, Sunday. (Express photos)Amid the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s proposed land pooling policy facing massive backlash and opposition in rural areas, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday reached Ludhiana villages to “seeks suggestions from farmers on vital issues to create Rangla Punjab.”
The chief minister’s office said that “instead of a cosy sofa, Mann interacted with villagers sitting under a tree” in Samrala and Libra of Ludhiana district, and ”sought their vital inputs regarding the carving out of Rangla Punjab and apprised them about key initiatives of his government.”
“There were no cozy sofas or the formalities of government protocol in usual meetings of the state government but there was a sense of belongingness where a Chief Minister visited the ground to open his mind with the people and get feedback from them,” said a statement.
Mann said that at the time he assumed office, only 21% of canal water was being used for irrigation but today that number has risen to 63%. He said that it was “for the first time the water of canals and rivers have reached the villages in the tail end of the state.”
Mann also mentioned that his government successfully safeguarded Punjab’s water resources from being diverted to other states.
He informed the farmers that in order to avoid complications to them in selling their paddy harvest due to high moisture content in October, the state government has advanced the paddy cultivation season.
He said that zone wise cultivation of the paddy crop has been ensured in the state along with necessary planning and arrangements. Mann said that the state was divided into zones to implement this sowing mechanism in an effective manner and the dates of paddy cultivation in a phased manner were announced soon so that farmers can take benefit from it.
Mann said that he had called the Union Food Minister and urged that now the procurement of paddy must start from September 15 so that the farmers of the state can sell their in a smooth and hassle free manner.
He also spoke about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna — the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. He claimed that Punjab was the first state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage.
The Chief Minister said that his government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages.
Expressing concern over big fat weddings in the state, the Chief Minister said that they are putting a huge burden on the pockets of the common farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann, while batting for simple weddings, said that it is the need of the hour so that farmers can be pulled out of the vicious circle of debt.
He quipped that the top leaders of the opposition parties are not even aware of the basic Punjabi due to which they can’t read or write it well. Mann said that these leaders who had took education from high end schools were poor in speaking Punjabi due to which they can’t connect with masses.
You May Like
Photos
