Badal meets Central Ministers on Punjab demands

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI)Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met Union Ministers-Shivraj Patil, Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar seeking the releasing of payments due to the state, timely supply of fertilisers and retention of Central funding for Sarv Sikhsha Abhiyan(SSA).

The Centre is still to release compensation ammount due to the farmers of cultivating their land along the fence of Indo-Pak border in Amritsar,Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts of the state.

Besides, Mr Badal sought Rs 36.60 crore from the centre for construction of judicial court complexes . The expenditure is to shared by the State and Central government on a 50:50 basis.

Mr Badal also sought the Union Home Ministry's assistance for modernisation of the state police.

Mr Pawar told the Chief Minister that arrangements for supply of Urea and DAP more than the requirement of 12.50 lakh tonne and 2.50 lakh tonnes respectively.

The Chief Minister sought the clearance of pending payments by the Centre from food and agricultural areas to the tune of Rs 3660.49 crore.Also, clearing of a proposal for infusing a fund of Rs 545 crore in state cooperatives. already gone red.

Mr Badal also met Minister of State for Housing,Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja seeking funds for urban development schemes.

UNI