‘Will try not to have containment zone in my constituency’

The Congress MLA from east constituency, Sanjay Talwar, claims to have fulfilled all promises he made with the people of his constituency at the time of elections. He claimed that he had been working for providing better infrastructure, facilities, education, health facilities and other important things to the public. Immediately, after becoming an MLA the maximum number of announcements were made for east constituency and Talwar claims to have fulfilled all these. He, along with councillors, is also putting efforts to help people in this Covid-19 times. Here are a few excerpts from a conversation in which he told TOI’s Nidhi Bhardwaj about announced and upcoming projects for east constituency.
Q: What is being done by you in order to control spreading of coronavirus among people in your constituency?
A: There is a ban on social gatherings and all councillors have been told not to indulge in too much public meetings in their offices. Apart from this, no religious or political programmes are being organised. If anybody has no mask or sanitiser, we distribute both things. There are 10,000 masks ready with me. We are distributing ration among the needy people who require it and they can also collect it from the office of councillors. As of now, no containment zones are there in the constituency and efforts are on to avoid having any in future too. We are requesting people to avoid visiting the police stations as well and if possible settle things at their level.
Q: Right after your election as MLA from east constituency projects worth Rs 800 crores were announced. What happened to those announcements?
A: The work on all announced projects is going on at fast pace. If Covid-19 had not disturbed things, many of those projects would have been completed by now. In those announced projects, three were major projects,a includingn exhibition centre, which is coming up on 12 acres, a club on 5 acres and a government school on 6 acres. If I talk about these three projects, then only the land cost is around Rs 1,000 crore. The construction work of college is going on while for club the design is getting ready and in September we will start membership drive as well. For the exhibition centre too the process is going on and tenders will be called shortly.
Q: East constituency lacks better infrastructure, whether it is an exhibition centre or a club. Besides, all basic amenities are also required for the public?
A: Mine constituency is not a backward one. I have semi-urban area and mixed population is residing here. If I have migrant labourers and BPL families, then I have effluent businessmen families too. I have 10 lakh population and 2.15 lakh voters in the constituency. And my priority is to bring everything in my constituency so that people need not visit other constituencies for their works. As far as infrastructure is concerned, from Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) already Rs 50 crore worth of works are in progress and Rs 50 crore worth works are in the pipeline. Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has approved development works for almost Rs 100 crore for the constituency while the MC has spent Rs 150 crore on similar projects. More than 100 open gyms have already been set up in public parks and Rs 20 crore have been spent on the beautification of those parks.
Q: What are the upcoming projects for the constituency?
A: First of all, the maximum part of the Buddha Nullah passes through east constituency and for its rejuvenation a Rs 650 crore project has been approved. Along with this, roads will be constructed on the sides of the nullah. 11 new government schools are approved for my constituency and these will be equipped with smart classes, playgrounds and solar panels. Five big community centres are also planned for poor people to organise their functions. One amusement park is coming near Mohini Resort at Chandigarh Road. Then static compactors are under installation and the largest leisure valley is going to be developed in my constituency. Three fire stations have been approved. One will come on Tajpur road while for the second talks are going on with Mandi board as land is required there near Bahadurke road. The third is planned on Rahon road. Two 66 kg sub-stations were also proposed for the constituency, one is near completion opposite Tibba Road police station and the other one will be at Bahadurke road.
Q: For all these projects funds will also be required, which always remain short, so will these projects will come into existence before 2022 elections?
A: The state government has given Rs 25 crore to each MLA for development works and Rs 25 crore will come later. Apart from this, I have planned projects under various departments because I know very well that only one department cannot manage these many projects. First preference is to get land transferred from the department concerned and then funds will be arranged. And if not completed, at least the projects will start and will complete gradually.
Q: Your differences with other MLAs as well as mayor Balkar Sandhu have come to the fore many times. Whether those differences still exist?
A: I had no differences with anybody at personal level. The fight was for getting projects and development works for the constituency, so that promises made to people get fulfilled. When I saw there was some problem in getting funds from the MC, I changed my approach and got funds from other departments and even from the state government. So now, there is no issue with anybody. I am dedicated to provide basic facilities and other essential things for people of this constituency, so I am working only in that direction.