Badal launches two World Bank projects for Punjab

Chandigarh, May 25 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today launched two ambitious Rs 2780 crore World Bank aided projects aimed at improving water supply in the rural areas and rehabilitating road infrastructure in the state.

With the launch of these projects, mr Badal has cleared and launched infrastructure projects to the tune of Rs 21,975 crore in the last one month.

At the launch, the Chief Minister also announced a new rehabilitation and resettlement policy for persons whose land or structures would be acquired for the two projects.

The first project---Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Project would involve a cost of Rs 1280 crore and it is aimed at augmenting potable water supply to over 3000 villages.

The second involves rehabilitation and widening of 1300 km roads at the cost of Rs 1500 crore.

Mr Badal launched these projects at an impressive ceremony held at CII in the presence of Operations Advisor of the World Bank Rachid Benmesaoud, state Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and PWD (B&R) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that his government was laying greater stress on improving infrastructure in to attract investments in various growth oriented sectors.

He said the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project was one of the most ambitious project that will provide potable water supply to over 3000 villages, sewerage facility to over 100 villages and take care of village ponds in 1000 villages. With the completion of this project in next 5 years, Punjab would become the first state with 100 per percent coverage of water supply to all 12,267 villages and a few thousand habitations in all the 20 districts of the state.

Speaking about the road project, the Chief Minister said that it will involve rehabilitation and upgradation of 1300 kms road length at an estimated cost of Rs 1500 crore, with a loan assistance of Rs 1100 crore. It is the largest ever road sector project being undertaken in Punjab.

Mr Badal said that to take care of day-to-day maintenance of roads the government had set up a Dedicated Road Maintenance Fund.

He said that his government has given its nod to a new progressive Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy to take care of those people whose land or structures get acquired in the implementation of this road project. He said that he has personally monitored this policy, which was quite fair and targeted to provide proper compensation and assistance to affected persons and families.

He assured World Bank authorities that implementation of both these projects would be the priority of his government.

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