The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved a comprehensive plan for seeking funds to the tune of nearly Rs.700 crore for various development projects from NABARD under RIDF XX for the year 2014-15. Presiding over a high level meeting with the team of senior officers of the NABARD led by its Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta here at Chief Minister’s Residence this morning, Badal impressed upon the officers to sanction loans liberally for funding the various development projects across the state especially in the rural sector. Mr. Badal was apprised that the construction of field channels of Kotla Branch Phase-II system (AIBP), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Improvement/Remodeling and rejuvenation of village ponds and disposal of sullage water and Civil works of schools of SSA/RMSA would be undertaken with RIDF loans amounting to Rs.687 crore against the total cost of Rs.1876.61 crore on these projects. Reiterating the state government’s firm commitment to effectively tackle the menace of drugs in the state, the Chief Minister also impressed upon the CGM to donate generously under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards the state’s noble mission to fight out the drug abuse through setting up a network of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers to bring back the youth, which had gone astray due to this in the main stream so that they could lead a normal life with self respect.
The Chief Minister also asked the NABARD CGM to look into the possibility for funding the projects for constructing warehousing facilities for the rural societies in the villages for the storage of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and other agricultural implements. He asked the Chief Secretary to work out a detailed proposal after discussing the issue threadbare with the senior officers of the Cooperation department besides the MDs of Markfed, Milkfed, Pungrain, Punjab Agro Corporation and Punsup. Summing up the discussion, the NABARD CGM assured Mr. Badal that he would soon take up all the issues raised by him with the Chairman for their early resolution besides there incorporation in the prescribed schedule of development activities of the agency. The Chief Minister was also given update regarding the RIDF projects for 2013-14 and he asked the implementing agencies to ensure there completion at the earliest.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr.G.Vajralingam, Principal Secretary Finance Mrs.Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Secretary Expenditure Mr.Jaspal Singh, Secretary PWD Mr. PS Aujla, Secretary Mandi Board Mr. Deepinder Singh, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Director Technical Education Mr. B. Purusartha besides General Manager NABARD Mr. LR Ramachandran and Manager NABARD Mr. Rakesh.