PUNJAB NEWS-CM gives in principle approval for projects worth Rs. 660 crore under NABARD Schemes

Chandigarh, July 2, 2013:Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to the state's projects worth Rs. 660 cr for the current fiscal under various schemes of NABARD.

A decision to this effect was taken by the chief minister during a high level meeting with a 7-member team of NABARD led by its Regional Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta.

The cm okayed the projects viz construction and upgradation roads worth Rs.380 cr, Rs. 140 cr Drinking Water Supply RO system, Rs. 100 cr  for revamping of Canals and Drains network, Rs. 30 cr for setting up of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Rs. 11 cr farmers' contributory project of Brick lining of  the water courses etc. He asked them to prioritise all these projects in coordination with the state government.

Expressing concern over the rapidly depleting ground water in the state, Badal asked the Irrigation to prepare a comprehensive plan to recharge the same and sought NABARD's support to fund this robust task.

Reviewing the pace of ongoing development works, Badal assured the Chief General Manager that all the sanctioned funds under various schemes would be optimally utilised. He asked principal secretary finance to regularly monitor the progress of schemes funded by NABARD.

On the occasion, Naresh Gupta also apprised the chief minister about various other schemes being funded by the NABARD. He informed that NABARD had approved Rs. 12 cr to 320 Agricultural societies to advance subsidised loans for the purchase of tractors and other agricultural implements. It was also informed that NABARD has also launched a unique funding scheme for Farmer clubs to bring awareness amongst them besides funding self help groups of women for capacity building. Gupta said that under NABARD Infrastructure Development Authority (NIDA) they were providing funds to cope up with the requirements of rural infrastructure.

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included financial commissioner rural development and panchayats Mandeep Singh Sandhu, principal secretary to CM SK Sandhu, special principal secretary to the CM Gaggandip Singh Brar, principal secretary finance DP Raddy, principal secretary irrigation KBS Sidhu, principal secretary animal husbandry G Vajralingam, secretary finance Jaspal Singh besides other senior officers of the state government. The NABARD team was represented by GM DD Behera, AK Pasrija, Satya Prasad (both DGMs) besides Dr. M Biswas, RR Badiyal and S Ghosh (all AGMs)