Urban revival top most priority: Brahm Mohindra

Friday, 14/06/2019

https://www.brightpunjabexpress.com/index.php/2019/06/13/urban-revival-top-most-priority-brahm-mohindra/

Ludhiana - Local Bodies and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra today said that his top most priority will be the revival of urban infrastructure across Punjab. He also assured that the availability of funds will not be any problem for carrying out the development works. He said, he will ensure accountability of each and every official working in the department. In an exclusive interview with the Punjab Express here today, Mohindra expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for reposing so much faith and trust in him. “The local bodies ministry is one of the most important ministries in the government and it concerns majority of people across the state and I will try my best to ensure that I come up to the best expectations of people”, he said. At the same time, the minister added, he will involve all the local representatives including the MLAs and councilors in the developmental process. “I have always remained available to everyone and people don’t need prior appointment to meet me”, he said, while adding that he believed in cooperative and participatory approach in solving public problems.

He refused to comment on the role of his predecessor in handling the local bodies ministry. “I have set my own developmental agenda for the state under the guidance of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and I will ensure that the agenda is executed and implemented in letter and spirit”, he remarked. Mohindra said, urban expansion was a challenge for any government anywhere in the country. “Given the population growth, we can’t stop cities from expanding and spreading out, but we can ensure proper and regulated growth where people get all the basic amenities”, he said, while adding, urban expansion is a sign of progress and there was nothing wrong in it. He said, the government in general and his ministry in particular will be the facilitator in all round urban expansion in a planned way and the municipal bodies will have major role to play in it. He said, he will be taking suggestions from across the spectrum. Replying a question about Ludhiana smart city project, the minister said, he will be setting a deadline for its completion. “After examining all the aspects and taking into confidence all the stakeholders, I will set a deadline which will be final and non-negotiable”, he said, while adding that he did not believe in letting the work to drag on for years as it defeats the very purpose for which the development is aimed at. Mohindra said, each and every civic problem was his concern and everything will be dealt with same priority. “Whether it is the issue of stray dogs or the availability of drinking water in the urban areas, everything will be taken note of and care of”, he said, while remarking, what concerns people, should concern the government and the ministry. Last, but not the least, the minister asserted that he will ensure the accountability of the officials and officers of the department. He said, the local bodies department has the maximum direct public dealing. “I will not tolerate that when people visit the offices that they should return disappointed just because the official was not available or he was asked to come next time”, he said, while asserting that there will be no “next time” and there has to be on the spot solution to the problems of the people. Mohindra was here to preside over the District Grievances Redressal Committee meeting. He was accompanied by the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and others.

Punjab Politics News

Punjab General News

RANA GURJIT SINGH INAUGURATES MARKFED SALES BOOTH AT LOHIAN

Thursday, 01/08/2019

https://www.brightpunjabexpress.com/index.php/2019/07/31/rana-gurjit-singh-inaugurates-markfed-sales-booth-at-lohian/

Jalandhar : In a major step to boost the rural economy besides providing employment to youth in villages, MARKFED has launched a sale booth in Lohian, which would, provides more than 100 eatable items.

 

NRI NEWS

Indian-Americans urge Trump to ‘fully support’ India on Kashmir

Sunday, 04/08/2019

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/indian-americans-urge-trump-to-fully-support-india-on-kashmir/813832.html

Washington : The Indian-American community in the US has urged the Trump administration to “fully support” India’s decision to revoke the constitutional provision that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir and to continue to exert pressure on Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism.