Punjab
Geographical Area : 50362
Population in 2001 : 2 43 58 999
Estimated population in 2025 : 3 11 54 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Punjab population as percentage of India : 2.24%
Population in 2011 : 2 77 04 236
Males 1 46 34 819
Females 1 30 69 417
Sex ratio : 893
Under 6 Sex ratio : 846
Number of Districts : 20
Number of habitated villages : 12,278
Capital
Chandigarh
Principal Language
Punjabi
History and Geography
Ancient Punjab formed part of the vast Indo-Iranian region. In later
years it saw the rise and fall of the Mauryas, Bactrians, Greeks,
Sakas, Kushans and Guptas. Medieval Punjab saw supremacy of the
Muslims. Ghaznavi was followed by the Ghoris, the slaves, the Khiljis,
the Tughlaks, 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 works of a Persian
writer, changed Punjab from Madam Kada to Bagh-Bahist (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. It had to face the misery of Partition with large-scale
bloodshed and migration. Besides their rehabilitation, there was
the task of reorganization 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
and during the same year the erstwhile capital of Punjab was shifted
from Shimla to Chandigarh.
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. There are 13 Members of Parliament from Punjab and
117 Members of Legislature are elected to form the State Government.
Agriculture
The State has 84% of its total geographical area (50.33 lakh hectares)
under cultivation. The cropping intensity is around 189% with over
97% of the cultivable area being under assured irrigation. The State
produces 20% of the country's wheat, 11% rice, 13% cotton and contributes
significantly to the Central Pool with about 60% wheat and 40% rice.
The paddy and wheat productivity in the State is 4022 kg/ha and
4450 kg/ha against the national average of 2173 kg/ha and 2868 kg/ha
respectively. Fertilizer consumption at 225 kg/ha is almost two
times higher than the national average of 113 kg/ha. The State's
farm economy is highly mechanized owing 18% of the country's tractors.
During 2008-09 the production of Paddy was 167 lakh mt against which
132.18 lakh mt was procured and production of wheat was 157 lakh
mt against which a record 109.84 lakh mt was procured.
Industry
There are 1.54 lakh small-scale and 375 large and medium units in
the state of Punjab as on 31/3/2009. These units produce bicycle
parts, sewing machines, hand tools, machine tools, auto parts, electric
good items, sports goods, surgical instruments, leather goods, hosiery,
knitwear, nuts and bolts, textile goods, textile, sugar, vegetable
oil, etc., giving employment to about 11.69 lakh persons. S.A.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 approved Machine Tools Cluster at Batala. Government
of India is yet to approve the proposals for setting up of Hand
Tool Cluster at Jalandhar and Common Facility Centre for Knitwear
and Apparel Exporters Organization, at Ludhiana. State Government
proposes to set up three more clusters namely steel Rolling Mills
Cluster, Mandi Gobindgarh, Information Technology Park and Development
of Spinning Industry, for these project reports are being prepared.
Besides, above mentioned clusters, 22 clusters of Micro, Small &
Medium industries have been identified for development in the state
and have been sent to Micro Small& Medium Enterprises, Government
of India, New Delhi. Out of these, 13 proposals have been approved
by Government of India for conducting Diagnostic Study Report.
Development of Industry has been adversely affected in the State
as a result of withdrawal of Freight Equalization on coal and Iron
& Steel by Government of India. This has been further compounded
with grant of tax exemption to the neighbouring States of Himachal
Pradesh & Jammu & Kashmir. As a result a large number of
Industrial Units from Punjab have expanded their capacities by making
investments in the State of Himachal Pradesh & Jammu & Kashmir.
Irrigation
The total Geographical area of the State is 50.36 lakh hectares,
out of which about 41.74 lakh hectares area is under cultivation.
After partition of the country in 1947, Indus water treaty of 1960
between India and Pakistan restricted India's right to usage to
only three eastern rivers Satluj, Beas and Ravi. The State has three
dams namely Bhakra Dam with storage capacity of 5.60 MAF constructed
on River Satluj, Pong Dam with storage capacity 1.90 MAF constructed
on River Ravi. At present the area under irrigation is 40.77 lakh
hectares, which is 97.68% of the area under cultivation. The canal
surface water distribution System consists of 14500 km of Canals/
Distributaries covering six major systems in the state namely: Sirhind
Canal system, Bhakra Main Line, Bist Doab Canal, Upper Bari Doab
Canal, Sirhind feeder and Eastern canal. 27% area is irrigated by
canal surface water and 73% area by 12.82 lakh tubewells. The total
length of watercourses is 1,20,000 km in the State, out of which
41,294 km watercourses has been lined so far. The canal water and
electricity is being provided free of cost to the farmers in the
State.
Project for remodeling of UBDC System to utilise additional water
available on completion of Ranjit Sagar Dam has been completed under
AIBP at a cost of Rs.177.80 crore and benefited the 118 thousand
hectares area of Amritsar and Gurdaspur district. The problem of
adequate water discharge in Kasur Branch Lower and Sabraon Branch
Canal System has been 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 under the Project costing Rs.58.15 crore. A consolidated
Project costing Rs.299.22 crore for increasing capacity of various
channels of BML 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 will be created.
The backward Kandi Area in Punjab has been developed by constructing
12 Low Dams with estimate cost of Rs.420.00 crore which will further
provide irrigation facilities to 12000 hectares. Similarly with
the completion of Kandi canal from Talwara to Balachaur an additional
area of 29640 hectares will be brought under irrigation. Besides,
1800 deep tubewells are being energized in the Kandi area for irrigation
purposes.
84800 hectare area is affected by water logging out of total area
of 263929 Ha of three districts Ferozepur, Mukatsar and Faridkot.
The impact of high water table in the southern part of state has
been reduced with the construction of new drains and the maintenance
of existing 8000 km of drains. Besides 1800 km of flood protection
embankments and about 3800 river training works have also been completed.
Installation of shallow tubewell along Sirhind Feeder in the most
critical area also helped arresting the seepage from the canal.
In order to arrest the menace of water logging in Ferozepur, Faridkot
and Mukatsar districts by relining of Rajasthan Canal and Sirhind
Feeder with an approximate cost of Rs.1440 crore under AIBP. The
central Punjab faces water depletion in 112 blocks (70%) out of
141 blocks declared dark in thee central Punjab.
Power
The present generation capacity of Punjab is 6841 MW, whereas peak
unrestricted demand is about 9000 MW. There is a shortfall of 30%
of peak demand. 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 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.
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
MUs' out of which 4.6 per cent of energy generated shall be supplied
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.
Moreover this project is likely to cover its own cost by the next
four or five years. Four new thermal Power Plant are being setup
in the State namely Talwandi Sabho (1980 MW) in Bathinda district,
Rajpura (1320 MW) in Patiala district, Gidderbaha (2640 MW) in Mukatsar
district and Goindwal Sahib (540 MW) in Tarn Taran district.
Peda
Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has installed about 200,
2HP Solar Photovoltaic Water Pump Sets for irrigation purposes in
the state. 16 Mini Hydel (15.85 MW) and 28 Micro Hydel (35 MW) Projects
have been commissioned on BOO basis. PEDA has also commissioned
Rs.4.5 crore, 200 kwp Solar Photovoltaic Grid Interactive Power
Plant at village Khatkar, Kalan, Distt. Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar
218.65 MW Biomass/Baggasse based cogeneration power projects have
been commissioned in the State.
Punjab Energy Development Agency being the State designated agency
for implementation of Energy Conservation Act 2001 in the state
of Punjab, has initiated activities such as publicity and awareness
of Energy Conservation/energy efficiency through print/electronic
media, energy audit of building and industries, demo projects of
energy efficiency in Municipal street lighting and water pumping,
mandatory measure announcements, promotion of CFL/energy efficient
lighting in domestic sector.
Transport
Roads: Public Works Department (Building and Roads) has been responsible
for roads, bridges and buildings. The total road network length
is 63833 kms., consisting of 1739 kms National Highways. 1462 kms
State Highways, 5968 kms Major and other District Roads, 45000 kms
Rural Link Roads, 8130 kms Urban Roads, 1534 kms Project Roads.
Out of total 3400.02 kms rural roads, new construction of 815.16
kms and upgradation of 2584.86 kms under PMGSY has been completed.
Aviation: : There are three Civil Aviation Clubs at Ludhiana, Patiala
and Amritsar. There is a domestic Airport at Chandigarh an International
Airport at Rajasansi (Amritsar and two Aerodromes at Patiala and
Ludhiana (Sahnewal). Two Aviation Clubs are coming up at Faridkot
and Talwandi Sabo.
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, Holla Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, Baisakhi at Talwandi
Saboo, Urs at Rauza Sharif at Sirhind, Chappar Mela at Chappar,
Skeikh Farid Agam Purb at Faridkot, Ram Tirath at Village Ram Tirath,
Shaheedi Jor Mela at Sirhind, Harballah Sangeet Sammelan Baba Sodal
at Jalandhar. In addition to above Fairs and Festivals three heritage
festivals at Amritsar, Patiala, Kapurthala are also celebrated every
year and are very popular among the tourists.
Tourism
The State has a large number of places of tourist interest some
of which include Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala Bagh
and the Wagah Border in Amritsar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Khalsa
Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib, Bhakra Dam, Qila Androon, Moti
Bagh Palace and Chattbir Zoo at Patiala, Wetland at Harike Pattan,
Sanghol (district Fatehgarh Sahib) and Rupnagar archeological Musem
at Rupnagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial at Village Khatkar Kalan,
SBS Nagar for archeological importance, Mughal Complex at Aam Khas
Bagh, Rauza Sharif of Sheikh Ahmed at Graves of Afghan Rulers at
Sirhind and Sodal Temple at Jalandhar, commemorative of Maharishi
Balmiki Heritage.
To meet the requirement of trained manpower in tourism Industry
and enhancement of employment generation the State Government has
introduced the Hospitality courses in Schools, Colleges. LT.Is and
Polytechnics.
In Rural areas, the scheme of Farm Tourism has been launched to
provide better opportunities of employment with the assistance of
District Administration. Until now 23 farm houses have been registered
under Diamond/Gold/Silver category. Besides this, to explore the
resources of the State, the project of Heritage Village is being
set up at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar with an estimated
cost of Rs.22.00 crore. Quila Gobind Garh Fort, Amritsar which has
been handed over to the State Government by the Army, is being renovated
and conserved to be opened for general public. The Department of
Tourism, Punjab has got prepared Tourism Master Plan from the UNWTO.
Pensions
Punjab Government is paying monthly pension of Rs.250/- to 12.30
lakh old persons (60 and above for women and 65 and above for men),
84,568 destitute children, 1,10,967 disabled persons and 2.14 lakh
widows Rs.468.00 crore has been allocated for 2009-10 for payment
of pensions to these 16.40 lakh persons.
Under "Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension" scheme,
Rs.200 p.m. over and above the pension paid by the State Government
is given to disabled, issueless persons, widows and destitute old
persons of 65 years and above belonging to below poverty line families.
100% ACA is provided for this purpose by GOI under National Social
Assistance Programme. 1,59,292 beneficiaries are covered in Punjab
under this scheme
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