Tarn Taran, June 16
Tarn Taran was formally made the 19th district of the state to mark the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev here today.

The new district comprises of 493 revenue villages of subdivisions of Tarn Taran, Khadoor Sahib and Patti. People believe the new status will usher in overall development of the border region, which was known as “Mini Khalistan” during militancy days in the state.

The self-styled chiefs of almost all Sikh militant outfits, including one of India’s most wanted Parmjit Singh Panjwar, belonged to the district. This was the reason that Tarn Taran was made police district in tumultuous days.

Though the rain played spoilsport resulting in poor gathering at the Congress function till noon, it gained momentum with the clearing of weather.

Capt Amarinder Singh also announced various sops for the district. These included establishment of a regional centre of Sri Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary Sciences at Patti, a regional centre of Guru Nanak Dev University at Valtoha, a college of physical education at Patti and a college of engineering and architecture at Khadoor Sahib.

An agro-based mega project at Goindwal Sahib was also announced. He also announced one-year special remission to prisoners convicted by courts and confined to various jails as on June 16.

He also announced that a 500 MW thermal power plant would be set up at Goindwal Sahib at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore for which the MoU had already been signed between the GVK Group of Industries and the state government. He also made announcements regarding the widening of the Tarn Taran-Amritsar road to be named as Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Marg, a railway overbridge on the Tarn Taran-Jandiala road to be built at a cost of Rs 20 crore and setting up of the Tarn Taran Development Board to boost multi-dimensional growth of the town. He also allocated Rs 1.15 crore and Rs 388.33 crore for drinking water supply and sewerage facility, respectively.

Mr Janardan Dwivedi, MP, AICC general secretary and in charge of Punjab Congress party affairs, paid homage to Guru Arjan Dev.

Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said it was the Congress that had made “concrete contribution” by making big announcements on various Sikh centenaries in the most befitting manner.

Paying tributes to Guru Arjan Dev, PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo said Mr Parkash Singh Badal had always used the religious platform to gain political mileage.

Earlier, Capt Amarinder Singh picked up Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, a former acting SGPC chief and veteran Akali leader, in his car and took him to the stage.

Mr Lalpura eulogised the Chief Minister for taking bold step on inter-state river waters. He alleged SAD had failed to live up to the aspirations of farmers, though it had alliance with the NDA government at the Centre, especially on the water issue.