Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday gave in principle approval to the State’s projects worth Rs 660 crore for the current fiscal under various schemes of NABARD.
The decision was taken during a meeting with a 7-member team of NABARD led by its regional chief general manager Naresh Gupta.
Badal approved the projects like construction and upgradation roads worth Rs 380 crore, Rs 140 crore for drinking water supply RO system, Rs 100 crore for revamping of canals and drains network, Rs 30 crore for setting up of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) and Rs 11 crore farmers’ contributory project of brick lining of the water courses etc. Badal also 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 department to prepare a comprehensive plan to recharge the same and sought NABARD’s support to fund this 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.
Naresh Gupta 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 funding scheme for farmer clubs to bring awareness amongst them besides funding self help groups of women for capacity building.