Rs 660 cr worth projects under NABARD schemes

Chandigarh, July 2: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to the state's projects worth Rs 660 cr for the current fiscal under various schemes of NABARD.

A decision to this effect was taken by the chief minister during a meeting with a team of NABARD led by its Regional Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta.

The chief minister gave nod to the projects including construction and upgradation roads worth Rs 380 crore, Rs 140 crore drinking water supply RO system, Rs 100 crore for revamping of canals and drains network, Rs 30 crore for setting up Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) among other projects.

Badal asked them to prioritise all these projects in coordination with the state government.

Expressing concern over the rapidly depleting ground water in the state, Badal asked the irrigation department to prepare a comprehensive plan to recharge the same and sought NABARD's support to fund this robust task.

Reviewing the pace of ongoing development works, Badal assured the Chief General Manager that all the sanctioned funds under various schemes would be optimally utilised. He asked Principal Secretary Finance to regularly monitor the progress of schemes funded by NABARD.

NABARD Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta informed that NABARD had approved Rs 12 crore for 320 agricultural societies to advance subsidized loans for the purchase of tractors and other agricultural implements.

PTI