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Area : 50,362 sq km
Population : 24,358,999
Capital : Chandigarh
Principal Languages : Punjabi
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.
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.
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. SAS 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.
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.
ehabilitation 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 resevtioning 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
The
Punjab Tourism Development Corporation is
running 17 complexes, including 3 Hotel at
Amritsar, 6 Filling stations and 4 Holiday
Homes. In addition, 2 Complexes and one Banquet
Hall at Pathankot have been given on
lease/license to the private parties. Shops at
Floating Restaurant, Sirhind, Tourist Complex,
Ropar; Tourist Complex Madhopur and Tourist
Complex, Moga have been licensed out to the
private parties to run the gift shops. The state
also has a large number of places of tourist
interest, some of which include Golden Temple,
Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar,
Takhat Keshgarh Sahib and Khalsa Heritage
Complex at Anandpur Sahib, Bhakhra Dam, Quila
Androon and Moti Bagh Palace at Patiala, Wet
land at Harike Pattan, Sanghol for
archaeological importance and Chhatbir Zoo,
Mughal Monument Complex at Aam Khas Bagh, and
Roza Sharif of Sheikh Ahmed at Sirhind with
graves of Afghan Rulers, Sodal Temple at
Jalandhar, and Ram Tirath Commemorative
Maharishi Balmiki’s heritage.
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