200 Smart Villages Be Developed Till End Of FY 2016-17 In Punjab

Chandigarh, July 12, 2016: Punjab government is all set to provide essential amentias in villages at par with urban areas. Working in this direction 200 villages of the state are being developed as smart villages and the work would be completed till the end of this fiscal year i.e 2016-17. These villages would be equipped with facilities like 4G connectivity, solar street lights, sewa kendars, sewerage and drainage facilities, bank branch and model school etc.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of Punjab Government said that the state government is working to fill the gaps in physical infrastructure in rural areas by creating school buildings, health dispensaries, Dharamshalas, clean drinking water, sports facilities etc.
He further said that 100% of the rural population would have access to electricity. 8263 Deras and Dhanis had already been identified, which are yet to be connected with 24 hours Urban Pattern Supply (UPS).
He said in a major relief to small and medium farmers who do not possess any tubewell connections, government has initiated scheme to provide tubewell connections on priority to farmers who have applied for the same and have land holdings below 2.5 acre. Till date 1.65 lac tubewell connections had been provided to various categories of AP applicants.
He said that Under National Rural Livelihood Mission, the state government will ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable sections of the society. Moreover, in a bid to provide facilities to self-help groups, a pilot project has been started in 14 blocks of seven districts of the state.