Punjab Governor Meets President, Union Ministers During Delhi Visit
Kataria raises concerns over drug rehabilitation, medical education, flood control and major development projects during meetings in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI, Sep 29: Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria held a series of meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and several Union ministers in New Delhi, raising issues concerning development, healthcare, education, flood management and drug de-addiction in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Kataria met President Droupadi Murmu during his visit and invited her to attend the Vijay Diwas programme at the Asafwala War Memorial in Fazilka in December.
He also met Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, who is the Chancellor of Panjab University, and discussed measures aimed at helping the university achieve the objective of becoming the country’s top-ranked institution.
During his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kataria discussed measures for making Chandigarh free from drug abuse. He emphasised the need to rehabilitate people affected by substance abuse and provide them with skill development and employment opportunities after rehabilitation to support their reintegration into society.
Kataria also met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda and sought 36 additional postgraduate seats at the medical college. He further requested Rs 2,000 crore in support for the Chandigarh Regional Medical Hub project, which is proposed to be developed as a fully government-funded initiative.
In his meeting with Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Kataria sought the conversion of Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh into a fully Centrally Funded Technical Institution (CFTI).
He also requested the appointment of a vice-chancellor for Punjab Engineering College, which currently holds deemed-to-be-university status, in accordance with the University Grants Commission Regulations, 2018.
Flood related concerns were also raised during Kataria’s meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil. He highlighted the extensive damage caused by Ravi river floods in the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot.
Kataria called for a comprehensive long-term strategy to address repeated flooding in the affected areas and establish a permanent solution to the problem.
He also expressed gratitude to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for approving Rs 93 crore for Ajj Sarovar in Kharar and around Rs 19 crore for establishing a Digital Museum at the Le Corbusier Centre in Sector 19, Chandigarh.
