Attari (Punjab), Dec 12 (IANS): Giving a major reprieve to the residents of border districts of Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday announced that the state government would provide round-the-clock power supply to the residents of the border belt along the India-Pakistan international boundary.

Addressing people during his visit to this border town, Badal said he had already issued the necessary directions to the authorities concerned to ensure 24x7 power supply in the border areas of the state.

"All the 'deras' and 'dhanis' would also be covered under the urban pattern domestic power supply scheme of the state government as a mark of respect to the residents of border areas who are 'true patriots' as they have braved all odds for preserving the unity and integrity of the country," Badal said.

The chief minister said the division of the country, consequent to the partition in 1947, and wars with Pakistan in the post-independence era had given a fatal blow to the development and prosperity of the border towns of Punjab.

He said cities like Amritsar, Kalanaur, Ferozepur and Fazilka, among others, which once flourished as leading industrial and trading hubs of the undivided Punjab, have now been relegated to petty trading centres.

"People of these border areas have been living under the shadow of constant fear, uncertainty and turmoil though they have valiantly confronted such situations arising out of any provocation or the slightest tension from across the border," Badal said.

Punjab shares a 553-km-long barbed wire-fenced international border with Pakistan. The border districts in the state are Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka.