JALALABAD (Ferozepore), July 15 — Despite repeated denials that the ruling Akali Dal has no intention of going in for mid-term elections, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said he had intensified assembly segment tours to expedite development works in the state.

Mr Badal, who was here to attend a “sangat darshan” and lay the foundation stones of various development projects said his government aimed to bring development to the most backward pockets, including border areas. Expressing concern over the problem of drinking water in border districts, he said a move was afoot to engage experts to solve the problem of flouride in water.

Mr Badal further said the kandi and bet belts would be the next priority areas from the point of view of development.

The poor condition of rural schools, roads and water logging were the prime areas of concern, he told mediapersons.

Mr Badal’s visit to the Jalalabad villages had all the ingredients of a pre-election campaign, as he moved from venue to venue to lay foundation stones of development projects.

At Vairoke village, he laid the foundation stone of a 66 kv power grid, after which he drove into Jalalabad town to lay the foundation stone of a tehsil complex. He also announced grants for secondary schools in the township.

At all these functions, the local MLAs — Sher Singh and Paramjit Singh from Guru Harsahai and the Ferozepore Lok Sabha member, Mr Zora Singh Mann accompanied the Chief Minister.

Two Cabinet Ministers from the district — Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, and Mr Surjit Jyani — were also present.

At the “sangat darshan” venue in the mandi, certain officials managing the stage announced that all grievances would be redressed on the spot by the Chief Minister.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Badal said these visits were aimed at gauging the pulse of the public. Replying to a question, he said the SAD-BJP alliance was intact and discounted any possibility of problems in the coalition. “We have no differences”, he claimed.

Referring to a question on the overall development scenario in the border district, Mr Badal said the Centre had agreed on certain proposals to compensate farmers whose fields had been acquired for fencing.

The three border districts of Amritsar, Ferozepore and Gurdaspur were facing drinking water problem. Mr Badal announced that help of experts were being sought to install water treatment plants to purify underground water of flouride.