The Punjab government led by Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday released funds to the tune of Rs. 1200 crore towards pending payments for various schemes and development projects in the Local Government and Health Department besides releasing monthly social security pensions for August worth Rs. 140 crore and Power subsidy worth Rs 300 crore has also been released.Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the state government has released these funds to boost the tempo of overall development and growth in the state with a directive from Chief Minister to all the departments to intensify its efforts for additional resource mobilisation by cutting down wasteful expenditure to further consolidate state’s fiscal position, which was already showing signs of recovery.The Spokesperson further said that a sum of Rs.197.12 crore has been released on account of retrial benefits up to June 30.
Likewise, an amount of Rs. 165.09 crore has also been released under different development programs, Externally Aided Projects (EAP) and NABARD EAP Rural Water Supply Scheme, Centre Road Fund, Integrated Child Development Services, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Border Area Development Program.Similarly, an amount of Rs. 92 crore and Rs. 36.42 crore has been released to clear VAT and GST refund up to September 6, 2018. The Spokesman further mentioned that the bills amounting to Rs. 75.73 crore on count of medical, POL, water/electricity, material supply and office expenses have also been released till September 6, 2018. A sum of Rs 75.16 crore has been released under National Health Mission and Bhagat Puran Singh Health Insurance Scheme. The treasury has also released bills for grant-in-aid (non salary) of PIDB to the tune of Rs. 50.72 crore while Rs. 22.90 crore for SC Post Matric Scholarship, Rs. 19 crore for sports, Rs 9.06 crore for minor works, Rs. 5.12 crore for interest payment of Local Government, Rs. 3.63 crore for lotteries besides Rs. 8.05 crore on count of miscellaneous charges.