Centre approves Rs 307 crore for Mohali Under JNNURM

Mohali, Dec 9 (UNI) The Central Government has approved an outlay of Rs 307 crore for SAS Nagar (Mohali) under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM), so as to upgrade the existing infrastructure and ensure a planned development of the town.

Talking to the mediapersons, after inaugurating the annual Fete 'Vibes 07' at St Soldier School here, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said 50 per cent of the entire project cost would be borne out by the Centre and the remaining by the state government under the scheme. He also said that an amount of Rs 27 crore had already been released and placed at the disposal of Municipal Council and the remaining Rs 180 crore would be released soon.

The Municipal Council had formulated project proposals to the tune of Rs 360 crore for the town under JNNURM which mainly included, local transit system connecting Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula (mono rail/city bus service), besides enhancing water supply, both residential and commercial. The proposals also included, installation of sewage treatment plant, solid waste management, multi storied parking and widening of major road network.

However, a comprehensive city development plan for the town would be prepared by a reputed consultancy firm.

On the financial position of the state, Mr Badal retorted that the previous government had put the state under a staggering debt of Rs 50,000 crore due to its wrong and ill-conceived economic policies. He said the callous attitude of the Congress government had put the state in a financial mess.

The Chief Minister said said when the SAD-BJP government demitted office in 2002, Punjab ranked at the top slot in the country but now it had been relegated to the fifth position due to the wrong policies of the previous Congress government.

''It is all on the record and we are ready to bring the factual position on the floor of the House in the Vidhan Sabha'', he quipped.

Squarely holding his predecessor Capt Amarinder Singh for stalling the Rs 16,000 crore Bathinda Oil Refinery project, Mr Badal pointed out that Capt Singh had termed the project as a 'white elephant'. '' Had this project not been economically viable it would not have been implemented, that too none other than steel tycoon, Mr Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, who has put in huge investments in this prestigious project in collaboration with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL),'' Mr Badal said.

Asked to make comment about taking certain tough measures and withdrawing a few subsidies to improve the financial health of the state, Mr Badal said that the state government would cautiously deliberate upon all the related issues before taking such hard decisions. He, however, said that the people must contribute and be partners in the development process because the government alone could not carry out all the development plans and schemes on its own.

UNI