Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to expedite the process of sanctioning funds to initiate Rs100 crore project to upgrade the existing drainage system in waterlogged areas of the state.
Badal, presiding over a high level meeting with a team of NABARD led by its chief general manager Naresh Gupta on late Thursday evening, was reviewing various projects of Rs661 crore under different NABARD schemes for the state.
Expressing concern over the menace of water-logging in major parts of the south-west Punjab, that is in districts of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka and Faridkot besides, Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur district, Badal emphasized on the need to strengthen the existing drainage system in these areas for effective redressal of the water logging.
Badal has also directed all concerned secretaries to keep close liaison with NABARD for implementing various approved projects in a stipulated time frame. Apart from Rs100 crore drainage project, other NABARD projects includes Rs300 crore Mandi Board roads, Rs80 crore PWD roads, Rs90 crore water supply, Rs50 crore Irrigation, Rs30 crore uninterrupted power supply project to Dhanis comprising three houses on urban pattern and Rs11.04 crore brick lining of water channels for which public had deposited their shares.
Taking part in the deliberations, Gupta assured the Chief Minister that NABARD would sanction Rs100 crore project for addressing the issue of water logging effectively.
Gupta also apprised the Chief Minister that NABARD could have disbursed more funds but limit of Rs495 crore fixed under Section 293 (3) of the Constitution for the State was the limiting factor.
He requested that the State Government may pursue with the Planning Commission to get the same enhanced up to Rs600 crore.