Punjab releases Rs 178.94 crore for 1984 riot victims

Chandigarh, May 30 (UNI) The Punjab government has released Rs 178.94 crore for providing rehabilitation grant to the 1984 riot victims, out of which Rs 168.32 crore has already been disbursed.

This was stated by Punjab Chief Secretary K R Lakhanpal while presiding over a meeting of Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioner of the state held here today.

He directed the Deputy Commissioners to complete the verification of all 4,367 fresh claims for rehabilitation grants by tomorrow to enable the state level committee to consider them so that disbursement could be made to ensure reimbursement from the union government by June 30.

Regarding the execution of emergent flood protection and drainage works before the onset of monsoon, the Chief Secretary informed that as per the demands of the Deputy Commissioners, Rs ten crore had been sanctioned for desilting, repair and restoration of drains and for the execution of the new flood protection works.

He asked the Deputy Commissioners of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Patiala and Mansa to be vigilant and get the flood protection works done before the ensuing monsoon season.

The Chief Secretary further informed that the state government has decided to release Rs 90 crore for the repair or re-carpeting of 837.86 kms of critical municipal roads to improve the road infrastructure in the towns and cities. He asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure the completion of works on these roads before September 30.

It was also disclosed in the meeting that Punjab Mandi Board has approved the repair of 2390.24 kms of link roads at a cost Rs 275 crore and this work would be completed before November 30.

Reviewing the progress of disbursement of pensions, the Chief Secretary was informed that during the year 2005-06 Rs 436.70 crore has been disbursed to beneficiaries including the payment of arrears of year 2004-05.

He urged the Deputy Commissioners to ensure the disbursement of pensions positively by 10th of every month.

Regarding the delivery system in education and health sectors, especially in rural areas, it was informed in the meeting that the Rural Development Department has decided to deploy service providers in 838 dispensaries, and agreements with almost one thousand such service providers had already signed and they would commence their work from June 1. Similarly the recruitment of teachers was going on and it was expected that new staff would take charge by the month of July.

On the construction of toilets in the houses of SC families in rural areas, it was stated in the meeting that the state government had released Rs 60 crore in March this year besides earmarking an amount of another 60 crore for the year 2006-07.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the adult education and mid-day meal schemes and directed each Deputy Commissioner from every Division to undertake detailed study of the projects within 15 days to suggest ways to make them more effective and result oriented.

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