Giving a boost to the development work in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday released Rs 211 crore and presented cheques worth Rs 58 crore to 37 Urban local Bodies (Municipal Councils /Nagar Panchayats).
Describing the money as a Rs social cheque’, the Chief Minister directed the UlBs to ensure that it is spent in a transparent manner. He also instructed the concerned officials to immediately start work on all pending development projects.
A spokesperson said after the event at which the cheques were handed over to the 37 UlBs that the Chief Minister assured that his government would ensure equitable expenditure, without indulging in any discrimination as was done by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government against the areas represented by the Congress.
The Chief Minister disclosed that his government was in the process of arranging a loan of Rs 1540 Crores for achieving 100% coverage of the water supply and sewerage system in the areas under the urban local bodies.
The amount was expected to be released soon, he said, adding that the government was also expecting an additional grant of Rs 34.91 Crores to be released soon through PIDB.
local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu thanked the Chief Minister for the release of the development project fund, which he described as Captain Amarinder’s Diwali gift to the people of Punjab. Projects worth Rs. 137 Crores and 125 respectively had been sanctioned for ludhiana and Amritsar, he said, adding that development projects for Jalandhar would be announced within a week, he added.