CM rules out package announcement for Punjab by PM

Jalandhar, Nov 16 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh again ruled out the possibility of announcement of relief for farmers of the state by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state scheduled for later this month.

Talking to reporters in Shahkot town, the chief minister said he did not think there would be any new major announcement of package as the state had already got over Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre.

Capt Singh said the prime minister would visit Punjab between November 25 and 30 and among his major programmes was the foundation laying ceremony for Halwara International airport in Ludhiana which had already been cleared by the union cabinet.

Punjab PWD Minister Pratap Singh Bajwa had said yesterday the state government was expecting that prime minister would announce Rs 2,500 crore relief for farmers on account of penal interest on loans taken by them from various commercial and cooperative banks.

Besides, a special package for fast development of border belt spread over Amritsar, Taran Tarn, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts is also expected to be announced, Mr Bajwa had said.

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