The Central Government on Friday sanctioned a Rs 2,246 crore integrated programme to Punjab to combat the increasing problem of waterlogging in south western part of the State.
In a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the union cabinet decided on Friday to launch the Rs 2,246 crore integrated programme to address waterlogging problem in south west Punjab. The programme has been sanctioned following a report submitted by a high-level expert group headed by Planning Commission member, Mihir Shah, to the Central Government last year.
The Rural Development Minister said in the letter that 75 per cent of the total implementation cost of the project will be paid by the Central Government, which is to be implemented in South-West Punjab, primarily in the districts of Faridkot, Ferozepur, Muktsar and Bathinda. According to the letter the Central Government will contribute Rs 1,684.50 crore, 75 per cent of the project cost for three priority projects namely, lining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal, lining of Sirhind Feeder Canal, and surface and sub-surface drainage.
The Punjab Government had in October last year submitted an integrated plan of Rs 3,327 crore to the Union Government to deal with the waterlogging problem.