Haryana preparing water projects: Manohar Lal Khattar

Project will cost Rs 2,000 crore and would make available up to 5,000 cusecs of water to the state

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said that to utilise the surplus water of river Yamuna during monsoon, the state government is preparing five projects, which would cost Rs 2,000 crore and would make available up to 5,000 cusecs of water to the state.

Khattar said this while addressing the people after hoisting the National Flag during the 70th Independence Day celebrations at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Sirsa today.

Greeting the people on the occasion of Independence Day, he urged them to participate in the year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations of the State with the spirit of 'Sarv Haryana, Garv Haryana, Parv Haryana'.

Earlier, at an impressive march past, he took salute from contingents of Haryana Police and NCC cadets.

He also honoured the war widows and freedom fighters and also interacted with them.

He also announced Rs 2 lakh for those who participated in cultural programmes on Monday and one-day holiday in all schools in the district.

Apart from this, the Chief Minister also honoured officials of the district administration and meritorious students.

Laying down his Government's vision for the upcoming 'Swaran Jayanti' celebrations in the State, the Chief Minister said that budget provision of Rs 1,657 crore has been made for implementation of various Swaran Jayanti schemes in 2016-17.

A number of new schemes would also be announced on November 1, 2016, when Haryana enters the Golden Jubilee year of its inception, he said.

Paying rich tributes to freedom fighters and brave martyrs, the Chief Minister said that it was a matter of pride that from the freedom struggle beginning in 1857 till date, the brave soldiers of Haryana have always been ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the country, and their contribution to the freedom struggle would never be forgotten.

The society would always remain indebted to their supreme sacrifices as they had laid down their lives during the freedom struggle so that the coming generations could live with dignity.

"We cannot repay what our brave martyrs had given to us, but to discharge our duty towards their families, the State Government has enhanced the ex-gratia grant given to the family members of the Armed Forces personnel, who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty, from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Many other financial incentives and facilities are also being extended to soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents," he added.