Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday called on Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya to discuss central support and collaboration in holistic development of the state, with special measures to help out the beleaguered farming sector and special packages for debt waiver, industrialization and border area development.
For the same, the Niti Aayog agreed to visit Punjab for detailed discussions with the state government for the region’s development through crop diversification, industrial revival and other programmes.
While Panagariya assured the Chief Minister that Punjab would not be impacted by industrial incentives to the neighbouring hill states of Uttakahand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Capt Amarinder suggested a special industrial package for Punjab along a 40 km belt in the sensitive border area.
He stressed that there was a strong need to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises in Punjab with similar incentives in the border belt and in sub-mountainous area along the hilly tracts to promote employment and bring buoyancy in the tax revenue of the State.
It was also necessary for balanced regional development, he stressed, while also seeking a special one-time infrastructure development package for improving the border areas, with border roads to be taken up for special development and maintenance under the National Highway Programme of the country.
Capt Amarinder further urged the central government to also promote a Petro Chemical hub adjoining the Bathinda Refinery for manufacturing value added products.
He urged the Aayog to provide the state with technical support in preparing a roadmap for doubling the income of the farmers.