Ropar to be the 5th division of Punjab-Badal

Sri Anandpur Sahib, March 3 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to upgrade the Ropar district as the 5th Divisional Headquarter of the State after the completion of all requisite administrative and legal formalities.

Addressing a massive religious congregation on the occasion of annual Holla Mohalla festival on the 'birthplace of Khalsa' here after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Mr Badal said Ropar would be given its due recognition and status which it had lost after the creation of SAS Nagar, Mohali as new district during the previous government.

He said the creation of the new division would fulfill the long pending demand of the people of the area. Besides, the Chief Minister also announced to construct a new bridge over the Sirhind Canal at Ropar as the existing bridge was over a century-old and was in dilapidated condition.

He also announced another bridge over river Satluj at Sarai Pattan in Nupurbedi block would be constructed on priority basis thereby conceding the long pending demand of the residents of the area.

On the religious front, Mr Badal said the prestigious Khalsa Heritage Complex which was initiated by him during the tercentenary Khalsa Birth Celebrations in 1999 on the pattern of a religious monument in Israel which was conceptualised and designed by a world class architect would be completed within a year.

Likewise, an elevated road project to Sri Harimandir Sahib at Amritsar would also be completed within a year as thousands of devotees from all faiths and religions converge here to offer prayers and seek blessings of the Almighty.

He also said the Dasmesh Martial Arts Academy which was established by his government as a part of Khalsa Tercentenary Celebrations would be soon made functional.

He also announced a special provision to provide funds to the needy religious places including cemeteries belonging to all religious communities and faiths for their development and a proposal in this regard would be soon brought in the Cabinet for its approval.

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