To ensure proper planning of every village and town in Patiala division, comprising seven districts, a comprehensive development plan will be developed soon, with the help of experts and public.

Stating this while presiding over a seminar organised by the regional branch of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration here on Thursday, Patiala’s divisional commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said such a plan would be prepared by the state planning department after involving experts, elected representatives and public.

Bir said the planners sit in air-conditioned rooms and seldom seek opinion of the common man. Involvement of elected representatives is also important, he added.

According to the new comprehensive plan, every town and village in the seven districts of Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Ludhiana and Ropar will have a master plan for all development works. This will help in conserve the resources and ensure proper utilisation of funds. Among those present were experts from the Institute of Public Administration and Planning Commission and chairmen of four district planning committees of Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala.