Punjab CM meets NABARD chief, Anil Ambani

Chandigarh, Aug 7 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today met NABARD Chairman Dr Y S P Thorat, urging him to expedite the clearance of all the pending proposals of the state worth Rs 224 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Besides meeting the NABARD chief, the Punjab chief minister also interacted with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group chairman Anil Ambani in Mumbai today and they discussed the proposed SEZ project in the northern state, a Punjab government spokesman said in a statement issued here.

Taking part in the deliberations at the NABARD head quarters, Capt Singh asked Dr Thorat to increase the limit of RIDF from Rs 100 crore to Rs 600 crore, the spopkesman said.

Referring to the taming of Ghaggar river causing heavy devastation to human life and property every monsoon, Capt Singh impressed upon Dr Thorat to immediately give approval for the construction of a dam over Ghaggar within a stipulated time frame.

The Punjab chief minister also discussed the debt relating issue with Dr Thorat and requested him to enhance the refinance from NABARD to the State Cooperative Bank, the spokesman said.

The NABARD chief assured the chief minister that the entire pending project proposals would be cleared in principal positively by August 16, 2006, the spokesman said.

Commenting on the proposal for a Rural University in Punjab, Mr Thorat suggested Capt Singh to form a consortium of banks including NABARD to fund the establishment of the proposed university.

Later, Mr Anil Ambani called on the CM and expressed his gratitude for the state government's approval to set up a Reliance SEZ in Punjab.

Mr Ambani assured the chief minister that this SEZ would be established in a time bound manner and act as a catalyst to attract huge investments in the state, the spokesman said.

UNI PS SBA KP1916