Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday called for the World Bank’s full support in addressing the major challenges the state is currently facing, emphasizing the need for financial assistance to accelerate growth, improve public services, and safeguard the environment.
The Chief Minister, in a significant meeting with the World Bank Country Director for India Auguste Tano Kouamé, presented a compelling case for the Bank’s involvement in Punjab’s developmental projects.
Highlighting Punjab’s commitment to fiscal resilience and institutional reform, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of external financial support to achieve the state’s development priorities. He outlined the Government’s reform agenda, which focuses on fiscal prudence, better governance, and improved service delivery — all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for the state’s citizens. With a solid track record of implementing reforms, Punjab is well-positioned to make substantial progress with the right financial backing, Mann added.
The proposed financial support would target several key areas, including infrastructure development, human resource development, and social welfare initiatives, which are vital to the state’s growth trajectory. The Chief Minister said that with World Bank’s assistance, Punjab is poised for a major leap forward in economic prosperity.
One of the most pressing issues discussed was the environment, which Mann said is the State Government’s top priority. He explained the steps being taken to conserve groundwater and reduce the depletion of this vital resource. Efforts to revive old water courses and line canals to increase surface water usage are central to these initiatives. The government’s commitment to these efforts has already yielded positive results, with groundwater levels increasing by approximately one meter over the past two years, he added.
In addition to water conservation, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s solarization program for agricultural pump sets. This initiative aims to drastically reduce farmers’ electricity costs while boosting their income. Mann expressed confidence that, within five years, a significant portion of Punjab’s agricultural pumps could be solarized. He also spoke about plans to incentivize farmers to diversify away from paddy cultivation, a crop that, while crucial for national food security, strains water resources. By promoting alternative crops like maize and pulses, the Government hopes to reduce the environmental footprint of rice farming, he said.
Mann also addressed concerns regarding the high levels of lead and heavy metals in the state’s groundwater. He proposed a World Bank-supported project, similar to one initiated in Uttar Pradesh, to mitigate these issues and protect public health.
In response, Auguste Tano Kouamé offered an affirmative reply, indicating the World Bank’s interest in collaborating with Punjab on these critical issues. Kouamé praised the state’s determination to implement transformative reforms and acknowledged Punjab’s potential for growth. He emphasized that the World Bank is keen to support Punjab’s fiscal and governance initiatives, particularly through improved public financial management, data sharing, and service delivery in large cities. Kouamé also expressed interest in replicating some of Punjab’s successful projects in other parts of India.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to regular consultations between the Punjab Government and the World Bank to ensure the effective implementation of these initiatives. The Chief Minister’s engagement with the World Bank underscores his administration’s focus on sustainable development and its proactive approach to tackling the state’s most pressing issues.
