60th Republic Day at Gurgao

Gurgaon, January 26- The 60th Republic Day was celebrated in Ch. Surender Singh Cricket Pavilion today with fanfare. The Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda was the Chief Guest on the occasion who unfurled the Tri-Colour and took salute of the march-past. The Chief Minister first of all paid tributes to the martyrs by laying wreath at the War Memorial in local John Hall premises and honoured the war widows present on the occasion. He also honoured Freedom Fighters also by presenting shawls to them. In his address, the Chief Minister said that the state government was implementing those welfare schemes about which the makers of constitution had dreamt of. The aim of democracy was being fulfilled by these schemes of welfare and social development, he said and added that today an era of social revolution has ushered in the state. While giving details of the welfare programmes launched by the state government, Mr Hooda said that it has been decided to construct ' Mahila Shakti Sadan' in each village of the state and women above 60 years of age would have to pay half fare while traveling in the Haryana Roadways buses. The Chief Minister told that the state government has launched a scheme named 'Mahatma Gandhi Grameen Basti Yojana' of Rs. 2300 crore for providing 100 Sq. yards free plots each to the houseless people. This would benefit about 6 lakhs families in next two years and more than 65 thousand free plots have been given during the last three months under the scheme. Besides, 4.5 lakh SC families have been given drinking water connection and tank free of cost till now. In his address the Chief Minister also referred to the issue of SYL and said that the state government is committed to bring Haryana's share of Ravi-Beas water through Sutlej-Yamuna link canal and it will spare no efforts in this direction. He told that the BML-Hansi-Butana canal for equitable distribution of canal water was near completion and work on Dadupur-Nalvi canal was going on speedily. A Mewat canal project costing Rs. 326 crore has also be prepared for Mewat district, he added. Mr Hooda said that all health institutions in the state were being upgraded as per Indian Public Health Standards norms. He said that the patients coming to OPD in Government Hospitals were given all medicines free of cost and for this a budget of Rs. 50 lakh has been provided to each Civil Surgeon. Referring to roads, chief minister said that a project costing about Rs. 2000 crore was being implemented for improving the conditions of roads in the state. He said that the state government has fixed a target of making Haryana a power surplus state by enhancing the generation capacity with addition of 5000 MW during the five years tenure. According to the Chief Minister, every year a new power plant would be commissioned upto 2012. Terming Gurgaon as Show-Window of industrial development of the state, Mr Hooda said that HUDA has incurred an amount of Rs. 1385 crore on development of infrastructure in Gurgaon during the last three years and Rs. 500 crore were being spent in the current financial year. He said that the government has prepared a mega plan costing Rs. 6034 crore for strengthening the power system in Gurgaon. He said that 60 per cent work of extension of Metro Rail Project upto Gurgaon has been completed and Metro Rail service would also be extended upto Faridabad and Bhadurgarh. On this occasion the Chief Minister exhorted the people to combat terrorism unitedly by shedding all barriers of caste, creed and religion. A colourful cultural programme along with PT-Show was also presented by the school children. Impressed by the show, the Chief Minister announced holiday for two days in all government as well as private schools in Gurgaon. He also announced to give Rs. 2 lakh for distribution of sweets among the school children. He honoured 26 persons, including Sunil Kumar Yadav a commando with NSG who fought against the terrorist in Mumbai attack, of Gurgaon who excelled in various fields. The Chief Minister also presented awards to the best troops of parade and to the best three tabloids.