Chandigarh, Jan 21- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today assured the people that he would ensure that the water of Bhakra reach the Southern Haryana and for this, he would continue his efforts.
The Chief Minister was addressing a largely attended public meeting organized by Health Minister, Rao Narender Singh on the occasion of 17th death anniversary of his father Rao Bansi Singh, former Minister, at village Mandhana in district Mahendragarh to pay tributes to the former Minister.
Mr Hooda said that he was aware of the problem of shortage of water in the area, therefore, the Congress Government had got BML-Hansi Butana canal constructed, but some forces who were opposed to the development of the area were trying to create legal hindrances in the implementation of the project. He said that legally the State’s case was strong in its favour and it would get its due share of water.
While paying rich tributes to Rao Bansi Singh, Mr Hooda described him as a great social worker and said that while holding the portfolio of Panchayats and Development, Rao Bansi Singh had undertaken many development works in the area. He said that he was happy that now his son Rao Narender Singh has been following his footsteps.
Mr Hooda announced a number of development works for village Mandhana which included construction of a sports stadium, brick-lining of the ‘Phirni’ and also announced a grant of Rs one crore for the development of the village. He said that a beautiful park named after Rao Bansi Singh would be developed near ‘Sabzi Mandi’ in Narnaul. He named the primary health centre at village Mandhana after Rao Bansi Singh. Its new building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.07 crore.
The Chief Minister said that he was aware that he was not addressing a political function, but he would like to apprise the people about some statistics concerning the area. He said that during the rule of INLD-BJP, all departments of the State Government had spent only Rs 245.80 crore on development works in district Mahendragarh, whereas his present Government has spent Rs 1878.66 crore for the same purpose. This does not include the Central University being set up at a cost of Rs 300 crore and North-South Corridor to be developed at a cost of Rs 1700 crore. In the Narnaul assembly constituency, only Rs 95 crore were spent when Mr Om Parkash Chautala was the Chief Minister, whereas the present Government has spent Rs 406 crore and work on many projects was in progress.
Later while, interacting with media persons, Mr Hooda described Congress and development as synonymous to each other, adding that the meaning of Congress Government is development. The present Government has undertaken massive development in the entire State and it was exemplary during last seven years.
The Chief Minister dedicated to the people of the area many projects involving a total investment of Rs 31 crore by laying foundation stones of some of the projects and also inaugurating some projects. These projects included a new block of mini Secretariat constructed at a cost of Rs 10.46 crore, primary health centres costing Rs 4.14 crore at Chhilro and Bachhod, primary health centre constructed at a cost of Rs 7.61 crore at Ateli Mandi, new born child care centre set up at General Hospital, Narnual at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. He also laid foundation stone of new rest house of Forest Department constructed at a cost of Rs 44.88 lakh in Mahendragarh and also of primary health centre at Rampura. It would cost Rs 2.07 crore.
Mr Hooda also inaugurated a blood donation camp, an AYUSH health fair and a medical check up camp organized by Gurgaon’s famous Fortis Hospital and General Hospital, Narnaul. The doctors conducted check up of about 2400 patients at the camp.
Health Minister, Rao Narender Singh also paid tributes to Rao Bansi Singh and said that he was born in the family of a small farmer and became a teacher. Thereafter, he joined politics and was a popular Minister who served the masses with dedication. He was all praise for the development undertaken by Mr Hooda. At present, drinking water projects were in progress in Narnaul assembly constituency and these would cost Rs 72 crore. Also, Rs 34 crore were being spent on schemes of sewerage. In all, development works costing Rs 200 crore were in progress.
MP Ms Shruti Choudhry also paid rich tributes to the former Minister, Rao Bansi Singh. She said that the State has witnessed development either during the tenure of former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal or at present during the tenure of Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Chief Minister has got Central University set up in the area and has also implemented other big projects.
Others who also paid tributes to Rao Bansi Singh included Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Akram Khan, Power Minister of Rajasthan, Dr Jitender Singh, Haryana Cooperation Minister, Mr Satpal Sangwan, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr Sukhbir Kataria, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries namely Rao Dan Singh, Ms Anita Yadav and Mr Vinod Bhayana, MLAs Rao Dharampal, Dharam Singh Chhokar, MLA of Rajasthan, Shrawan Singh Chaudhary, former MP Dr Karan Singh, former Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh Bawal, Bijender Kadian, Rao Ram Singh, Jitender Bhardwaj, Kavita Yadav and many other prominent personalities.