Ferozepurians expect special package from PM on March 23
Govt. should announce only those projects having provisions in the budget : NGOs
Demands opening of Hussainiwala border, setting up of industry to create job opportunities
Ferozepur, March 19 : While the District Administration is on its toes to ensure security on the proposed visit of Narendra Modi to Hussainiwala, just 10 km from here, on March, 23 to pay rich tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their 85th Martyrdom Day, the residents of Ferozepur have also high expectations from Prime Minister to announce some special package for this border town.
Modi had earlier visited the memorial in 2006 on March 6,2007 when he was Gujaraj Chief Minister, but he would be the second prime minister to visit the memorial. In 1985, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had also visited the place.
It may be added that Ferozepur was once most prosperous during pre-Indpendence time and after independence till 1971 when the trade from Hussainiwala was carried out like Wagah Border.
In the past, number of prestigious projects has been announced for this border town – Govt. College, State of Art Eye Centre, PGI Satellite Centre, Astroturf – Hockey Stadium – but all are still to come up at the operational level since long. While work on Government College is going on, Eye Centre has come up without any infrastructure and adequate staff, PGI Satellite Centre is yet to find a land and work on Astroturf looks to be a dream.
Speaking to this correspondent, Inder Singh Gogia, President, Ashok Bajaj, Vice Presiden, Mangat Ram Anand, General Secretary, NGOs Coordination Committee City and Abhishek Arora, Secretary Cantt NGOs said, the government should announce only those projects for which the budget provisions have been made. The politicians should not lay foundation stones just to get Wah Wah of the people.
The NGOs further said, the PM should take steps for the opening of Hussainiwala-Lahore Border which is hanging fire for the past three decades which has severely affected the business in the city and the people of the area are clamouring for its opening. With the opening of the route would bring prosperity to the both sides, they added.
NGOs talking about the unemployment, said, there is no industry in this border town and the educated class from Punjab has to move out for job opportunities. In case the industry in established in Punjab especially the border towns, the youths of Punjab will be adjusted in the state itself. More-over, there is a need to give preference to the residents of Punjab for employment.
