City gets food street, ITI to Rampura

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 18

State Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Monday announced a food street for Bathinda to promote Punjabi cuisine, along with setting up of a new ITI at Rampura Phul in the budget presented in the Vidhan Sabha.

Apart from this, an old age home will be set up at Mansa and Rs 120 crore for the Sirhind Canal feeder have been announced.

City residents gave thumbs up to the budget over the relief given to them by making a cut of Rs 5 in petrol and Re 1 in diesel prices per litre from tonight.

Moreover, residents are also happy as no new tax been imposed. They said some relief should also be given in power tariff.

Prof NK Gosain, a city resident, said, “The decision to reduce petrol and diesel prices was a welcome step. Equally welcome is the decision of the Punjab Government not to impose any new taxes, but it is sad to find that no reduction has been made in the electricity prices as these are higher when compared to the rates of neighbouring states. The allotment of Rs 50 crore to Punjabi University, Patiala, will hopefully bring it back to the rails. The decision to establish a food street in Bathinda is also welcoming.”

He added that the expected increase in health and education budget was also a welcome step. Overall, this budget has been prepared keeping in view the upcoming parliamentary elections and it’s to some extent on the expected lines, he said.

“Sadly, the government employees have been left in the lurch as nothing concrete has been done for them,” Prof Gosain said.

Dr Vitul K Gupta, a health activist, said, “As much as Rs 3,465.06 crore allocated for health care services and Rs 189.15 crore for upgrading of medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar is a good step, but aid should be given to private colleges to reduce the exorbitant fees, due to which many good students fail to take the medical stream.”

Further, he also welcomed the government decision for keeping Rs 375 crore for crop residue management to solve the problem of paddy straw burning. Even setting up of medical colleges at Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Sangrur is also a good decision, he added.

CA Atul Garg said, “Rs 5 per litre cut in petrol price and Re 1 cut in diesel is a huge relief for the people. As the Finance Minister is from Bathinda, we were hoping that some big project would be announced for the district, which would have created job opportunities for the youth.”

Gian Chand Gupta, a city resident, said, “It is a routine budget and except for reducing VAT on petrol and diesel, no provision has been made for the subsistence allowance of the unemployed youth. Even, the pensions of old aged and widows have not been raised.”

Dr Ajitpal Singh, a social activist, said, “It is a disappointing budget as it has nothing for the unemployed youth, employees, pensioners, students and no announcement has been made regarding more recruitment or regulations of the employees.”

A welcome step: IMA

Dr Vikas Chhhabra, president, Indian Medical Association, Bathinda, said it is a welcome step that the state government has announced adequate funds towards the NHM (National Health Mission). The move will certainly go a long way in improving the condition of public healthcare in the state. But the fundamental problem of shortage of staff still remains and until the required staff, including doctors, are not recruited in hospitals, building infrastructure (hospitals) and purchasing medical equipment would barely serve the intended purpose. He added that no scheme for the farmers has been launched to get more prices for their crops.

Proposal to start construction of government college in Malout

Malout: Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, in the 2019-20 Budget, said there was a proposal to start the construction work of a government college in Malout this year.  The state government stated that there was a proposal to start the construction work of government colleges at Bhucho, Balluana, Dharamkot, Sultanpur Lodhi, Chabbewal, Dasua, Samrala, Nabha, SAS Nagar, Malout and Khemkaran with Rs 50 crore.  Notably, Malout is at present being represented by Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti in the Vidhan Sabha. Besides, Malout falls in Muktsar district, which is the home district of Manpreet Badal. There are a number of colleges being run by trusts and societies in and around Malout town, but there is no government college. Some locals said if the state government opens a college in Malout, it would prove much beneficial for financially weaker students. There is a government college in Muktsar, which too needs funds for proper maintenance and staff. 

"Rs 5 per litre cut in petrol price and Rs 1 cut in diesel is a huge relief for the people. As the Finance Minister is from Bathinda, we were hoping that some big project would be announced for the district, which would have created job opportunities for the youth." — Atul Garg, CA 

}"The decision to reduce petrol and diesel prices was a welcome step. Equally welcome is the decision of the Punjab Government not to impose any new taxes, but it is sad to find that no reduction has been made in the electricity prices as these are higher when compared to the rates in neighbouring states. The allotment of Rs 50 crore to Punjabi University, Patiala, will hopefully bring it back on the rails. The decision to establish a food street in Bathinda is also welcoming." — Prof NK Gosain, a city resident