Tarn Taran becomes 19th district of Punjab

Tarn taran, June 16 (UNI) Paying a befitting tribute to the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev on his 400th martyrdom day, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today formally announced Tarn Taran as the 19th district of the state.

The new district will comprise of 493 revenue villages of three sub divisions of Tarn Taran, Khadoor Sahib and Patti.

The Chief Minister also accorded Tarn Taran the holy town status.

The town was founded by Guru Arjan Dev in 1596.

Addressing a religious congregation on the 'Shaheedi Samaroh' organised by the State Government to commemorate the martyrdom day, Capt Singh hoped that the district status accorded to Tarn Taran would help in its development. He regreted the Akalis had ignored the area when they were in power.

He also announced various development schemes and programmes for the overall growth and prosperity of the newly created district.

These included the establishment of a regional center of Sri Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary Sciences at Atti, Regional Center of Guru Nanak Dev University at Valtoha, College of Physical Education at Patti and a college of Engineering and Architecture at Khadoor Sahib.

He also announced to set up an agri based mega project at Goindwal Sahib. Besides he also announced a 500 MW thermal plant to be set up at Goindwal Sahib at a cost of Rs 2700 crore for which the MoU had already been signed between the GVK group of industries and the state government.

He also announced the widening of the Tarn Taran- Amritsar road which would named as Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Marg, a railway over bridge on Tarn Taran-Jandiala road tp be built at a cost of Rs 20 crore and setting up of Tarn Taran Development Board to boost the multi-dimenational growth and development of the town.

AICC general secretary and incharge of Punjab Congress party affairs Janardan Dwivedi who was also present paid homage to Guru Arjan Dev for his unprecedented sacrifice and applauded the entire Sikh community for making supreme sacrifices for the defence of our motherland. He appreciated Capt Singh for making all-round progress in the state and implementation of the election manifesto.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and senior state ministers and Punjab Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo.

UNI HS SHB BST1951