In a boost to the efforts of Punjab to provide potable drinking water, National Agriculture Rural Development Bank (NABARD) has sanctioned projects worth Rs120 crore for supplying potable drinking water and upgradation of milk plants in the State.
A team of the NABARD led by Chief Managing Director Naresh Gupta and General Manager NABARD Punjab, DD Mishra, which called on the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday apprised him about the decision.
During the deliberations the team informed the Chief Minister that the agency had sanctioned Rs. 120 crore which include Rs 75 crore for the project of installation of RO system in 17 districts of Punjab to provide safe and potable drinking water to the residents of the State besides Rs 45 crore for up gradation of three Milk plants at Mohali, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
The team also assured the Chief Minister that the top brass of the agency was also likely to give nod to projects worth Rs 68.99 crore for strengthening and upgradation of 101 roads in the state, the work of which would be executed by the Punjab Mandi Board. The team informed Mr. Badal that the approval regarding it was expected in the meeting of project selection committee slated to be held on August 5.
The team reiterated their commitment to ensure rural development of the state in an integrated manner thereby adopting one Development block of the state as pilot project under Holistic Rural Development Plan.
Assuring fulsome support and cooperation to the NABARD for this plan, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government would form a committee of representatives of Forest, Rural Development, Water Sanitation and other concerned departments to assist the NABARD for this purpose.
lauding the efforts of NABARD for its dedicated service as apex institution in addressing credit and other developmental needs in the field of agriculture and rural development, Badal said that concerted efforts made by agency in ensuring all-round rural and agricultural progress besides prosperity of people living in villages across the state hardly need to be overemphasized. He also appreciated NABARD for constantly striving hard to accomplish the mandate assigned to it.