Punjab Newsline | Sunam

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday laid the foundation stone for a new Block Development and Panchayat Office (BDPO) in Chajli village of Sunam at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore, formally marking the beginning of construction.

Congratulating residents, Panchayat Samiti members, panches and sarpanches, Cheema said the new block office, recently approved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, would bring rural administration closer to people and accelerate development activities in the area.

The 6,600-square-foot administrative building is targeted for completion within six months. It will include a reception area, Chairman and BDPO rooms, staff hall, meeting hall, record room, waiting area, NREGA staff room and modern toilets.

Cheema said the new office would save local panchayats from travelling long distances for administrative work. He added that the government’s aim was not merely to construct buildings but to make administration more accessible while saving people’s time and money.

Finance Minister said several development projects were also being undertaken in Chajli and surrounding areas, including roads, sports stadiums, astro-turf facilities, Schools of Eminence and healthcare infrastructure.

He further said work was progressing on a large scale to supply canal water to agricultural fields to help conserve groundwater resources.