PM likely to announce Rs 2,500 crore relief package: Minister

Jalandhar, Nov 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to announce Rs 2,500 crore debt relief package for farmers of Punjab during his visit to the state later this month, Punjab PWD Minister Pratap Singh Bajwa said here today.

Talking to reporters, Mr Bajwa said that Punjab government is expected this relief in farmers debt burden on account of waiving of penal interest on loans taken by farmers from the commercial and cooperative banks.

He said that the state government had already taken up the matter with the Centre and it would stress up on the issue before the Prime Minister.

He said that Prime Minister is due to visit Punjab during the last week of the current month and a formal announcement to above effect is expected from Dr Singh during this visit.

He said that besides this the state government is also expecting special industrial package for the faster development of border belt spreading over Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Ferozpur districts of the state, on the lines of the package granted by the Centre for neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

During his visit, the Prime Minister would also launch a number of development projects in the state, Mr Bajwa added.

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