With an objective to lay a strong foundation for the industry, the Punjab government has prepared a long- term power generation plan, under which 16 new power projects of 16000 MW capacity would be executed in Punjab in a phased manner. Out of these, work on two thermal plants with 2520 MW capacity have already kicked off at Talwandi Sabo and Goindwal Sahib.This was disclosed by Punjab Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, while addressing a state-level function held to celebrate Parkash Utsav of Baba Vishwakarama Ji at Guru Nanak Bhawan here today.Kalia said that to ensure fast industrial growth, the state government was undertaking a number of big projects to strengthen infrastructure facilities and two new road corridors — Mohali-Ropar and Kapurthala-Jalandhar — were being established besides many other projects. Referring to the development plans for Ludhiana city, Kalia said that work on a complete sewerage project of Rs 250 crore had already been started, which would cater to requirements of fast growing urban population in this city. He also stated that the Ludhiana city would have its new city bus service in the month of November, under which, eight local busses will start plying on eight routes across the city in a phased manner and service will be gradually extended to other parts of the city. The Minister also assured that the government would sympathetically consider declaration of mixed land use in those areas, where small industry was running for a long period.Paying his tributes, the Minister said that Lord Vishwakarma was the founder of the craft, art, architecture and engineering on which, the present growth of industry and other sectors was based.Hira Singh Gabria, Jails, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, said that the followers of Baba Vishwakarma had made substantial contributions in various fields including religion, industry, craft, architecture, patriotism, fight against atrocities and social services.The Minister demanded that in the new master plan of Ludhiana, the areas, where small industry was running since long should be declared as areas of mixed land use, so that the working industrial units could get the facilities of load enhancement and extension of units etc.Addressing the function, Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Lok Sabha, said that to further improve excellence in the latest training in the engineering, architecture and construction sectors should be given top priority. Among others who addressed the function included Prof Rajinder Bhandari, State President, BJP, Dr Daljit Singh, Advisor to CM Punjab, Harish Rai Dhanda, CPS, Harish Bedi, MLA, Gurdev Singh Badal, Ex-Minister, Hakam Singh Gyaspura, Mayor MC, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Jathedar Amarjit Singh Bhatia, Baljit Singh Neela Mehal, Ranjodh Singh, President, Ramgarhia Education Council, Baba Ajit Singh, Charanjit Jit Singh Vishwakarma, President, United Cycles and Parts Manufactures Association, Avtar Singh, Secretary, CICU and Rattan Chand, President, Small industrialists and Traders Association.On this occasion, five prominent personalities from the industry including Onkar Singh from Avon Cycles, Vijay Munjal from Hero Cycles, Avtar Singh from New Swan, Jaswant Singh Bhullar, Sanjeev Ralson from Ralson Cycles and Charanjit Singh Dinanagar were honored for their contributions to industrial growth.
