New Delhi: The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, today held a series of meetings with the Hon’ble President of India, Vice President and Union Ministers in New Delhi and discussed important issues related to development and welfare of Punjab and Chandigarh, including drug de-addiction, healthcare, education, flood management and cultural development.
Shri Kataria paid a courtesy call on Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and invited her to attend the Vijay Diwas function at Afsawala War Memorial district Fazilka, Punjab in December.
Earlier, Shri Kataria met Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, and discussed the goal of making Panjab University the number one university and AI Cen, following the commitment made by the Vice President during his recent visit to Panjab University, Chandigarh.
During his meeting with Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, Shri Kataria discussed steps to make Chandigarh drug-free. He sought support for the rehabilitation of people affected by drug abuse, their skill training after rehabilitation and suitable employment opportunities to help them rebuild their lives.
With Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Shri Kataria requested 36 Post Graduate additional seats in the medical college. He also sought support of ₹2,000 crore for the Chandigarh Regional Medical Hub project to develop it as a fully government-funded project.
With Union Minister for Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi, Shri Kataria requested to make Punjab Engineering College a fully Centrally Funded Technical Institution(CFTI) on similar lines of Bengal College of Engineering Shibpur (West Bengal). He also requested the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor for the Punjab Engineering College, currently having the status of a deemed university, in compliance with UGC Regulations 2018.
During his meeting with Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, Shri Kataria raised the serious damage caused by Ravi River floods in the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot. He requested a long-term plan to prevent recurring floods and find a permanent solution to the problem.
Shri Kataria thanked Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for approving ₹93 crore for Ajj Sarovar in Kharar and approximately ₹19 crore for creation of a Digital Museum at the Le Corbusier Centre, Sector 19, Chandigarh
The meetings focused on strengthening coordination with the Union Government and taking forward important development and welfare initiatives for the people of Punjab and Chandigarh.