“Our aim is to make the entire Ambala Cantonment free from open drains”: Energy Minister Anil Vij starts layiny ₹58-crore storm water drainage project in other areas of Cantonment after completion of ₹65-crore project in Sadar area

“People have given me their strength and blessings, enabling us to undertake countless development projects to make Ambala Cantonment beautiful and developed”: Anil Vij

Anil Vij seeks public cooperation for storm water pipeline project, says cooperation will ensure better execution and greater public convenience

₹58-crore storm water pipeline network to cover several colonies from Jagadhri Road to the railway line, besides Lal Kurti, BC Bazaar and other areas

Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that continuous efforts are being made to transform the overall landscape of Ambala Cantonment. He said that a ₹65-crore storm water drainage pipeline project had earlier been completed in the old Sadar area of Ambala Cantonment to ensure rapid drainage of rainwater. As a result, waterlogging during the monsoon has been effectively addressed, while the problem of flies and mosquitoes has also been reduced significantly.

“Our aim now is to make the entire Ambala Cantonment free from open drains. We want the whole city to become open-drain free. Keeping this objective in mind, work on a new storm water drainage pipeline project costing approximately ₹58 crore is being commenced today from Ekta Vihar. This project will provide significant relief and convenience to the people,” he said.

Sh. Vij said that upon completion, the area would become free from open drains. He said that storm water pipelines are currently being laid from Govind Nagar on Jagadhri Road towards the Saharanpur railway line and up to the Tangri embankment. The Energy Minister directed Public Health Department XEN Harbhajan Singh to constitute three to four teams so that storm water drainage pipeline work could be undertaken simultaneously in Lal Kurti, BC Bazaar, Outer Large Road and Ekta Vihar. He further directed that the levels of the existing drains in Ekta Vihar be corrected before carrying out the pipeline work so that rainwater can be drained smoothly during the monsoon.

Sh. Vij said that the next phase would involve laying storm water drainage pipelines from Jagadhri Road towards the Defence Colony area, which would eventually help make the entire Ambala Cantonment free from open drains. “The strength and blessings given by the people have enabled us to undertake countless development works in Ambala Cantonment,” he said.

Earlier, upon his arrival at the programme, SDM Kanika Goyal welcomed Sh. Vij with a bouquet, while BJP workers and other dignitaries accorded him a warm welcome by presenting flower garlands. Transport Minister Anil Vij formally inaugurated the construction work by breaking a coconut.

Anil Vij appeals to residents to extend cooperation

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that during the laying of storm water pipelines, the platforms and structures outside residents’ houses would have to be removed at certain locations to facilitate the work. He appealed to residents to extend their full cooperation during the execution of the project. He said that residents had extended complete cooperation when storm water pipelines were laid in the Sadar area earlier, and as a result, the drainage system there has improved considerably.

“Congress focused on taking credit rather than developing the city”: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that Congress remained in power for 60 to 70 years, with its leaders serving as Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers, but the party did not give adequate priority to the development of the city and instead focused on taking credit. He said that the government had constructed an 8-kilometre-long embankment along the Tangri river and connected it with the GT Road. Underpasses and overbridges have also been constructed in place of four railway crossings, with only the overbridge at Machhonda remaining to be completed.

“The Tangri river existed even before we were born, but successive Congress governments did not strengthen and make the embankment along the river permanent. As soon as the BJP government came to power, we undertook this work and provided protection from flooding to lakhs of people,” he said. Taking a jibe at the Opposition, Sh. Vij said that whenever one or two feet of water accumulates somewhere during heavy rains, the Opposition starts a “photo shoot”. “During the Congress regime, boats used to ply in Ambala during the monsoon,” he remarked.

The Cabinet Minister said that the Tangri river has been dredged to strengthen flood protection, while the capacity of pumps at the Mahesh Nagar Pump House has also been enhanced and new pumps installed.

₹22-crore tender allotted to strengthen remaining portion of Mahesh Nagar Drain: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that ₹22 crore has been sanctioned for strengthening and concretising the remaining portion of the Mahesh Nagar Drain, and the work has already been allotted. He said that work would commence after the monsoon season. The design of the drain has been prepared by IIT Roorkee, which will facilitate better cleaning and maintenance of the drain through machinery in the future.

“Closing the central drain transformed the lives of people living nearby”: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that the central drain in the Sadar area has been closed and underground pipelines have been laid, which has greatly benefited local residents and changed their lives. “Earlier, people used to identify their homes by saying that they lived along the drain. Today, with the underground pipeline in place, people can comfortably sit outside their homes and use the space,” he said.

Several major projects undertaken for the development of Ambala Cantonment: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that several major development projects had already been undertaken in Ambala Cantonment, many of which are now visible on the ground. Listing some of the major projects, he mentioned the canal water supply project, Government College Ambala Cantonment, Ambala Cantonment Bus Stand, Grain Market, Shaheedi Smarak, Science Museum, SDM Office, Ambala Cantonment, Civil Hospital Ambala Cantonment, Atal Cancer Care Centre, FIFA-approved Football Stadium, All-Weather Swimming Pool, Gymnastics Hall, Badminton Hall, Bank Square, Municipal Council Office, Vyayamshalas, Subhash Park and the NCDC Centre, among several other development projects.

SDM Kanika Goyal, Municipal Council President Swarnjit Kaur, Vice-President Lalita Prasad, Mandal President Harsh Bindra, Mandal President Ravi Budhiraja, BJP office-bearers Jasbir Singh Jassi, Surendra Bindra, Bijendra Chauhan, Aarti Sehgal, Madan Lal Sharma, Advocate Punit Sarpal, Raman Chhatwal, Fakir Chand Saini, Executive Engineer Harbhajan Singh and other concerned officials and dignitaries were present on the occasion.