On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Finance Department has released another Rs. 667.63 Crores towards power subsidy, GST compensation to local bodies, as well as various development projects of PIDB and the Ashirwad scheme.While Rs. 275 crore has been released to PSPCL against power subsidy, Rs. 125 crore has been given to the Local Government Department on account of the GST compensation, according to an official spokesperson.A sum of Rs 95.48 crore has been released to PIDB for undertaking several infrastructure projects and Rs. 34.47 Crores has been allocated to the Social Security Department on account of payment to beneficiaries under Aashirwad Scheme till September 30, 2018.Further, amounts of Rs. 25 Crores and Rs. 25.71 crores have been released under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and Bhagat Puran Singh Bima Yojana, respectively.Another Rs. 45.61 Crores has been issued under Standard Object of Expenditure (SOEs) upto November 22, to be incurred on Medical, Reimbursement, Electricity, Fuel and other office expenses, while Rs. 11.86 Crores has been placed at the disposal for Public Works Department for the construction of Judicial Court Complexes in the state.
The Finance Department has also released funds to the tune of Rs. 9.41 crore to PWD under Central Road Fund, besides Rs. 6.56 Crores for Jails Department and Rs. 3.38 Crores for Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA).The Departments of Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities and Defence Services Welfare have got funds to the tune of Rs. 2.22 Crores and Rs. 1.47 Crores respectively, with another Rs. 3.77 crore set aside for pursuance of legal matters in Courts, and Rs. 69 Lacs released under the miscellaneous head, added the spokesperson.The Chief Minister has reiterated his earlier directive to all the departments to manage their finances prudently to cut down wasteful expenditure in order to further consolidate the state’s fiscal position. While expressing satisfaction over the improved fiscal position, the Chief Minister has called for more proactive steps to further augment the pace of growth, besides ensuring better financial management and discipline, the spokesperson further added.