Ina year that would be ever remembered across the globe for dreadful Covid-19Virus, the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Mr Ghanshyam Thoriwas able to kindle a ray of hope, goodwill, development, and human touch tosave the people from the scourge of this deadly virus.
Fishingin the troubled waters, the district administration ensured that people do notfall prey to the virus and played a commendable role in imparting qualityhealth services to the people, who suffered from Corona Virus. Districtadministration's efforts to save people from the virus were hailed by one andall. Still, people also lauded how the entire team of district administrationled by Deputy Commissioner remained on the forefront for people's well-being.
Thoughsome of the administration's key officers were also infected by the virus, theyalso relentlessly waged the battle against COVID-19 19 and ensured that peoplewere saved from it. Striking a direct rapport with the people, the DeputyCommissioner interacted with them every week to make them aware of the COVID-19pandemic and instil a sense of confidence and belongingness.
Inanother significant move aimed at strengthening the healthcare infrastructurefor ensuring quality treatment to serious COVID-19 patients, the DeputyCommissioner also made sure that Jalandhar Civil Hospital became the firstgovernment health facility in Punjab oxygen generation plant within the nextthree months. For speedy completion of the plant with 700-LPM capacity, thetenders worth Rs 88.20 lakh have been given to a Jalandhar based private firmwhich would have to complete the work by February last week, 2021. Thegeneration plant would produce 700-LPM oxygen daily, which was equal to 225-230cylinders. With the commissioning of the plant in the civil hospital, thesupply of oxygen cylinders could be increased by the vendor to the otherprivate hospitals as 225-230 cylinders used here, can be given to the otherapprehensions of second COVID-19 wave.
Underthe dynamic and visionary leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandharbecame the first and only district from the state to figure in the top fivelist of Prime Minister's Awards in the category of improving service deliveryas Jalandhar was leading in Punjab for delivering public services in astipulated timeframe set up by the government since July and has the lowestpendency rate hitherto. Under Mr Thori, the district administration during itscourse to kill the massive pendency evolved a mechanism to ensure the citizen'sfeedback besides monitoring the daily progress of the Sewa Kendras. Thismammoth exercise to reduce pendency and implementing the services' time-bounddelivery was initiated amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Thus, Jalandhar becamethe only district in Punjab, to become the only district in the state withminimum pendency.
Inanother path-breaking initiative, the Deputy Commissioner ensured theup-gradation of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the local LeatherComplex, to ensure proper treatment of effluents from the leather industry atthe cost of Rs 24.67 crore. It was long pending demand of the district'sIndustrialists and the Punjab government led by Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh had taken the historic decision for the state and industrywelfare. The move would help strengthen the CETP on the one hand and reduceenvironmental pollution considerably by the industry on the others besides givingsignificant and much-awaited relief to the industry.
Thedistrict administration also successfully kicked off developmental works worthRs 663.41 crore in the district under Phase-II of Punjab Urban EnvironmentImprovement Program embarked by the Punjab government led by Chief MinisterCaptain Amarinder Singh. These developmental works include the construction ofSurface Water Source-Based Water Supply Project having 275-MLD Water TreatmentPlant at Jagrawan village worth Rs 525.85 crore, construction of new 50-MLD STPand rehabilitation of existing 100-MLD STP in Pholriwal at the cost of Rs 69.72crore, LED lights at Pan city worth Rs 43.83 crore and 203 developmental worksworth Rs 24 crore in 12 Municipal councils in Jalandhar. These projects werethe need of the hour for giving a fillip to the overall development of theJalandhar.
Similarly,the administration under smart village campaign phase-II, kick-started 3201development projects worth Rs. 149.21 Crore in Jalandhar' 106 villages aimed atensuring holistic development of rural areas. In phase, I of the scheme, theChief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led state government had incurred worthRs. 41.46 Crore by ensuring development projects in 96 villages of theJalandhar, however, in the second phase as many as 3201 development projectsincluding up-gradation of road infrastructure, streetlight systems, lying ofnew sewage lines, setting up of Thapar model ponds, interlocking tiles, shedsin cremation grounds, solid waste management, disposal of sewage waste,construction of Panchayat Ghars, new playgrounds, community centre, and manymore have been initiated.
Likewise,intending to augment primary health care services and infrastructure amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, the administration has also dedicated 16 Health and Wellnesscentres (Tandarust Punjab Sehat Kendras) Jalandhar. These centres were operatedby Community Health Officers and were offering treatment for variousnon-communicable diseases, including Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases,and others.
Theofficers of district administration under the leadership of Deputy Commissioneralso carried on regular field visits to get themselves acquainted to problemsof people. People's difficulties were immediately redressed after the DeputyCommissioner and other top officers visited several places during the passingyear. To ensure better functioning of government offices, the districtadministration also organized random checking in offices.
Thedistrict administration also has a distinction of ensuring properimplementation of state government flagship programs like Smart VillageCampaign, Punjab Urban Environment Improvement Program, Punjab Shehari AwaasYojna, Guardians of Governance, Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana (MGSVY),Farmers' Debt Waiver Scheme and others.
Theconcerted efforts on the part of district administration also yielded resultsas around five lakh metric ton of paddy. Around five lakh metric ton of wheatwas procured in the district in a hassle-free and smooth manner. A foolproofmechanism was evolved this herculean exercise during which the DeputyCommissioner and other officers of district administration visited purchasecentres in the district to ensure that no inconvenience was caused to farmers.Amidst, COVID-19 19 social distancing was maintained in the grain marketsduring the procurement of grains. A smooth purchase of grain grid marking of 30by 30 feet has been made in the mandis in which every farmer would unload theirproduce so that social distancing was maintained.
Similarly,as per the Captain government's initiative, the district administration hasalso dedicated 110 smart schools in the district. It was a move to promotedigital literacy and online classes in Jalandhar. A total of 110 smart schoolswith facilities such as boundary walls, colourful furniture, projectors,laboratories, and playgrounds were created this year to continue the unhinderedsupport to our future generations and their well-being. After all, the futurewould always be brighter than the challenges of today.