Punjab
 |
Area |
50,362 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
24,358,999 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
 |
Capital |
Chandigarh |
|
Important Contact Numbers |
 |
Principal
Languages |
Punjabi |
|
Development Initiatives |
History
and Geography
Ancient Punjab formed part of the vast Indo-Iranian
region. In later years, it saw the rise and
fall of the Mauryans, Bactrians, Greeks, Sakas,
Kushans and Guptas. Medieval Punjab witnessed
the supremacy of the Muslims. Ghaznavi was followed
by the Ghoris, the slaves, the Khiljis, the
Tughlaqs, the Lodhis and the Mughals. Fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries marked a period of watershed
in the history of Punjab. Through teachings
of Guru Nanak, Bhakti movement received a great
impetus. Sikhism began as a socio-religious
movement, which was more interested in fighting
evils in religion and society. It was Guru Gobind
Singh, the tenth Guru, who transformed the Sikhs
into the Khalsa. They rose to challenge tyranny
and after centuries of servitude, established
a humane Punjabi Raj based on secularism and
patriotism. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, in the words
of a Persian writer, changed Punjab from Madam
Kada to Bagh-Bahisht (from the abode of sorrow
to the garden of paradise). But soon after his
death, the entire edifice collapsed due to internal
intrigues and British machinations. After two
abortive Anglo-Sikh wars, Punjab was finally
annexed to the British Empire in 1849.
The fight against the British rule had begun
long before Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival on
the scene. The revolt found expression through
the movement of a revivalist or reformist character.
First, it was the Namdhari sect, which believed
in self-discipline and self-rule. Later, it
was Lala Lajpat Rai who played a leading role
in the Freedom Movement. Punjab was in the vanguard
of India’s freedom struggle on all fronts
in India and abroad. Punjab’s hardships
did not end with Independence, as it had to
face the misery of Partition with large-scale
bloodshed and migration. Besides their rehabilitation,
there was the task of reorganisation of the
State.
Eight princely states of East Punjab were grouped
together to form a single state called PEPSU—Patiala
and the East Punjab States Union—with
Patiala as its capital. PEPSU state was merged
with Punjab in 1956. Later in 1966, Haryana
was carved out of Punjab.
Situated in the north-western corner of the
country, Punjab is bound on the west by Pakistan,
on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the north-east
by Himachal Pradesh, and on the south by Haryana
and Rajasthan.
Agriculture
Punjab State with only 1.5 per cent geographical
area of country produces 22 per cent of Wheat
12 per cent of Rice and 12 per cent of Cotton
in the country. The cropping intensity of Punjab
State is more than 186 per cent which has earned
a name of ‘‘Food basket of the country
and granary of India.’’ It has been
pooling 40-50 per cent of rice and 50-70 per
cent of wheat for the last two decades. In Punjab
per hectare consumption of fertilizer is 177
kg as compared to 90 kg at national level. Also
Punjab State has been awarded National Productivity
Award for agriculture extension services for
consecutively ten years from 1991-92 to 1998-99
and 2001 to 2003-04.
Industry
There are 2.04 lakh small-scale units in the
State. These units produce bicycle parts, sewing
machines, hand tools, machine tools, auto parts,
electrical items, sports goods, surgical instruments,
leather goods, hosiery, knitwear, nuts and bolts,
textiles, sugar, vegetable oil, etc., giving
employment to about 9.35 lakh persons. In large/medium
sector there are 600 large/medium scale units.
S. Nagar, Mohali in the vicinity of Chandigarh
has emerged as an attractive destination for
IT and IT enabled industries. Under the Industrial
Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS). Government
of India has sanctioned two projects namely
Knitwear Cluster and Bicycle Parts Cluster at
Ludhiana for implementation in Punjab. The primary
objective of the scheme is to enhance International
Competitiveness of the domestic industry by
providing quality infrastructure through public/private
participation in clusters/locations which have
greater potential to become globally competitive.
Irrigation
Punjab being an agrarian state, a very high
priority is being given to agricultural Development.
The water available in Punjab is much less as
compared to the land potential. Therefore, to
maximise production per unit of water resources,
it is emphasised to utilise every drop of water
available judiciously and carefully. Even Government
of Punjab is taking up a number of projects
for the diversification of crop. Due to better
irrigation management, an additional 0.97 lakh
hectare of area has been brought under cotton
crop in various cotton growing districts of
Punjab. The Geographical area of the State is
50.36 lakh hectares having a cultural area of
42.90 lakh hectares out of which 33.88 lakh
hectares is commanded by a vast network of canal
infrastructure having a length of 14,500 km
of main and branch canals distributaries and
minors.
Ranjit Sagar Dam is a multipurpose river valley
project which has been constructed 8 km upstream
of Madhopur Head Works. It comprises of 160
metre high earth core-cum gravel shell dam on
river Ravi with a gross potential to the tune
of 3.48 lakh hectares of land. Punjab Irrigation
and Drainage Project Phase II with credit assistance
from World Bank has been completed. Irrigation
potential of the existing irrigation system
has been improved by completing the lining of
1,092 km length of channels, lining of 33,000
km of water courses and modernisation of 295
canal regulation structures have been completed
under the World Bank Project. Rehabilitation
of 1,260 km length of Channels and 53 km new
Channels have also been completed with state
funds. The number of projects for raising the
capacity of 6 canal systems and raising the
capacity of 3 canals of Bathinda Canal System
amounting to Rs 18.83 crore have been completed.
Project for remodeling of UBDC System to utilise
additional supplies available on completion
of Ranjit Sagar Dam has been taken up under
AIBP Scheme. A total length of 298 km of main/branch
canals out of 364.10 km and 1507 km length of
lined/unlined distributaries/minors out of 1,557.25
km length provided in the project has since
been completed at a cost of Rs 140 crore. For
early completion of on-going UBDC Project, the
balance work was taken up on war footing which
the funds of Rs 20 crore were released by the
State government. The bottleneck of feeding
required discharges in Kasur Branch Lower and
Sabraon Branch Canal Systems has removed by
undertaking the remodeling of their parent channel,
i.e., Kasur Branch Upper, thereby restoring
adequate canal water supplies to the vast agricultural
area of UBDC System.
It is proposed to convert Banur Canal System
from non-perennial to perennial for which the
Project costing Rs 38.08 crore is under sanction
of NABARD. Similarly, the Project for side lining
Main Branch Canal costing Rs 39.55 crore is
also under sanction of NABARD. Above all, a
consolidated Project costing Rs 299.22 crore
for increasing capacity of various channels
of BML Canal System, Sirhind Canal System, Sirhind
Feeder System, Bist Doab Canal System and Eastern
Canal System has been proposed for funding by
NABARD, under which an additional irrigation
potential of 33,000 hectares besides providing
better irrigation facilities and about 1,98,000
hectares is targeted, thereby giving boost to
food grain production in the State.
The backward Kandi Area in Punjab has been
developed by construction of 11 Low Dams irrigating
area of 12000 hectares and completion of Kandi
canal will irrigate are of 19867 hectares bringing
on green revolution to the area. 1615 deep tubewell
for irrigation purposes and additional length
of 3905 km water courses stands lined on the
state. The impact water table in the southern
part of state of Punjab has been reduced by
construction of new drains and renovating of
existing 8000 km of drain, 1800 km of flood
protection embankments and about 3800 river
training work have also been completed. Installation
of shallow tubewells along Sirhind Feeder in
the most critical areas also helped arresting
the seepage from the Canal. On the irrigation
front about 60 per cent of the total irrigated
land is served private/ government tubewells
and remaining 40 per cent is irrigated through
canals.
Power
The construction of Bhakra Nangal Complex including
Bhakra Dam, Bhakra Main line, Nangal Hydel Channel,
Ganguwal and Kotla Power House, Harike Barrage,
Sirhind Feeder, remodelling of Madhopur Headwork
into Barrage, etc., and Beas Dam at Pong have
been some of the major Irrigation and Hydroelectric
Projects which have played a significant role
in considerable enhancing the irrigation and
power potential of the State. Madhopur Beas
Link was constructed to transfer surplus water
of Ravi to Beas. A similar Beas- Satluj Link
Project envisages the utilisation of the Beas
water for the production of electricity at Slapper
and then transferring this water to Gobind Sagar
lake. The Mukerian and Anandpur Sahib Hydroelectric
projects are two important irrigation and power
projects.
Ranjit Sagar Dam is multipurpose River Valley
Project, comprising a 160 metre high earth core
cum gravel shell dam on river Ravi, with a gross
storage capacity of a reservoir as 3,280 million
cusecs. It provides additional irrigation potential
of 3.48 lakh hectares of land. All the four
units of Ranjit Sagar Dam (4 x 150 MW) have
been commissioned successfully. Annual generation
from this project shall be 2,100 MU’s
out of which 4.6 per cent of energy generated
shall be supplied free of cost to Himachal Pradesh
and 20 per cent energy generated shall be supplied
to J&K at genuine cost. By the completion
of this dam water of all three rivers allocated
to Punjab under Indus Water Treaty will be harnessed.
About Rs 500 crore per annum has started accruing
and this project is likely to cover its own
cost by the next four to five years.
Peda
Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has
implemented a special programme of 2HP Solar
Photovoltaic. Water Sets for irrigation purposes
in the state with financial assistance of Rs
41.45 crore from the Ministry of Non- Conventional
Energy Sources, Government of India. So far
1,700 of such solar water pumps sets have been
installed in the state share FY 2000-01. Another
700 of solar pumps sets are under execution.
PEDA has also taken up the execution of eight
Mini Hydel Projects with a total capacity 9.8
MW on canal falls as technology demonstration
projects. Another 44 Micro Hydel Projects with
a total capacity of 36 MW have been allocated
to private sector on BOO basis.
PEDA has also commissioned 200 kwp Solar Photovoltaic
Grid Interactive Power Plant at village Khatkar
Kalan, Distt. Nawanshahar at a total cost of
Rs 4.5 crore with 67 per cent grant from MNES
Govt. of India. This project has been dedicated
to the nation on 23 March 2003 by Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam, Hon’ble President of India.
PEDA has also been sanctioned 1 MW Biomethanation
cattle dung based demonstration power project
at Haebowal Dairy Complex (Ludhiana). The cost
of this project is Rs 14 crore (approx). MNEX
has provided 50 per cent grant for this project.
This project was commissioned on 3 November
2004. The work of Sardar Swaran Singh National
Institute of Renewable Energy on Jalandhar-Kapurthala
Road with grant of Rs 38 crore from MNES, is
also under execution.
Transport
Roads: Public Works Department Building and
Roads branch has been responsible for assets
of State Government in terms of roads, bridges
and buildings.
The total Network Length is 50,506 km. Punjab
Roads and Bridges Development Board was established
as a statutory body in 1998 with the enactment
of PRBDB Act (No. 22) of 1998 with a basic aim
of mobilising additional resources for state
roads.
Railways: The length of the rail routes passing
through the State is around 3,726.06 km. Rail
communication with Pakistan also emanates from
Punjab (Amritsar).
Aviation: There are Four Civil Aviation Clubs
at Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Jalandhar,
one domestic airport at Chandigarh; International
Airport at Rajasansi (Amritsar) and two aerodromes
at Patiala and Sahnewal (Ludhiana).
Fairs and Festivals
Besides festivals of Dussehra, Diwali, Holi,
other important festivals/fairs/melas are Maghi
Mela at Mukatsar, Rural Sports at Kila Raipur,
Basant at Patiala, Hola Mohalla at Anandpur
Sahib, Baisakhi at Talwandi Saboo, Urs at Rauza
Sharif at Sirhind, Chappar Mela at Chappar,
Sheikh Farid Agam Purb at Faridkot, Ram Tirath
at Village Ram Tirath, Shaheedi Jor Mela at
Sirhind, Harballah Sangeet Sammelan at Jalandhar
and Baba Sodal at Jalandhar. In addition to
above fairs and festivals, 3 heritage festivals
at Amritsar, Patiala, Kapurthalla are also celebrated
every year and are very popular among the tourists.
Tourism
Punjab is recognised as the granary of India
and also enjoy, a fairly high per capita income.
However, the State has to infuse additional
funds for ensuring balanced development. Tourism,
International and domestic, offers the best
prospects of helping the State both in the short
term and on a long term basis earn substantial
amount of revenue for meeting necessary requirements
of the State. It has to be recognised that tourism
not only generates employment, it also upgrades
human skills and the infrastructure created
for tourism is used by all other sectors of
the economy. Therefore, development of tourism
must not be viewed in isolation and the State
must adopt an integrated approach for its development.
Since tourism is a composite sector, its development
presupposes participation of different agencies
and necessitates cooperation and coordination
at different level. The State recognises that
uncontrolled growth of tourism can damage not
only our cultural heritage but also our social
and cultural values. Therefore, the State would
introduce suitable legislation for an orderly
and regulated growth of tourism and promotion
of culture of Punjab.
The State Government has announced new Tourism
Policy to develop tourism as the major industry
of Punjab by providing leadership and organisational
and strategic direction, to improve the quality
of the tourism product, to develop places of
tourist interest, to provide necessary facilities
for all categories of tourist and pilgrims,
to market Punjab Tourism products internationally
and domestically so as to provide employment
and for the economic, environment, social and
cultural benefit of our citizens with the following
objectives to achieve the desired results envisaged
in the document.
The State has a large number of places of tourist
interest some of which include Golden Temple,
Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala bagh in Amritsar,
Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Khalsa Heritage
Complex at Anandpur Sahib, Bhakra Dam, Qila
Androon and Moti Bagh Palace at Patiala, Wetland
at Harike Pattan Sanghol for archeological importance
and Chattbir Zoo, Mugh. Complex at Aam Khas
Bagh and Rauza Sharif of Sheikh Ahmed at Graves
of Afghan Rules, Sodal Temple at Jalandhar commemorative
Maharishi Balmiki Heritage.
