In a bid to ensure holistic growth of rural areas in a planned manner, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to amend the relevant provisions of the act to pave a way for making investments on the infrastructure development works in the villages. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister in the joint meeting of the various development authorities viz. PUDA, GMADA, GLADA, JDA, BDA and PDA here at his residence, this evening. Taking part in the deliberations the Chief Minister, accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, said that the development of villages in a comprehensive manner was the need of hour and these authorities could play a proactive role in refurbishing the requisite infra structure in the rural areas. Highly appreciating the proposal, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development asked its Secretary to bring agenda to this effect in the next Cabinet meeting for approval, so that a bill related to this amendment could be brought in the ensuing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The Chief Minister further asked Sukhbir Singh Badal to ensure that the development works in all the unauthorized colonies which had been recently regularized must be started at once without any further delay so that the development works of roads, street-lighting, water supply and sewerage could be completed expeditiously to provide these basic civic amenities to the residents. Acting swiftly on the advice of Mr. Badal, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the Departments of Local Government and Housing & Urban Development to jointly work out a mechanism for completing the entire work at the earliest. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal also apprised the Chief Minister that an ambitious plan comprising 40 schemes of 100% coverage in 32 towns with drinking water supply and sewerage system would be implemented in a time bound manner. The Deputy Chief Minister also asked Housing and Local Government department to synergize their efforts to boost balanced development in both rural and urban areas.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Secretary Housing Mr. A Venuprasad, Secretary PWD Mr. PS Aujla, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, CA PUDA Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta besides the CAs of GLADA, GMADA, JDA, PDA and others.