In a bid to provide 100% potable water in all the towns across the state, the Punjab Government has envisaged an ambitious programme at a cost of Rs. 962 crore in next two years. A decision to this effect was taken today during the first meeting of a High Powered Committee constituted under Rule 4 of the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund (PMIDF) Act 2011 headed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at the Chief Minister's office. Sanctioning another installment of Rs. 350 crore for the completion of 100% water supply facilities in various towns, Badal informed that the state government had already provided Rs. 306 crore under this project and assured that rest of the amount would also be provided soon.In an other significant decision the committee has approved to constitute a 'Designing & Planning Cell' comprising five renowned experts from the fields of Planning, Civil Engineering, Finance, Environment and Traffic to carry out the entire work of Municipal Infrastructure Development in a comprehensive manner. Taking part in the deliberations Badal asked the officers of the Local Government Department that as he had already announced to provide 100% basic amenities in terms of Water supply & Sewerage & Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), Roads and Slum Development/ housing for Urban poor in all the towns at a cost of Rs. 8635 crore in next three years, this entire work of 100% water supply should must be completed positively in two years period.Speaking on the occasion Local Government Minister Bhagat Chuni Lal informed that HUDCO had sanctioned the total loan of Rs. 750 crore for Infrastructure development in various Urban Local Government Bodies (ULBs) of the state, out of which Rs. 373 had been disbursed. On the occasion the principal secretary Local Government Suresh Kumar informed that with a view to constitute the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund and to provide financial assistance to the municipalities for their development the state government had enacted the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund Act 2011, under which Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company was formed for fund raising from various sources besides 20% of the additional tax (surcharge) levied and collected under the Punjab Value Added Tax Act 2005 to be credited directly to this fund.Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Local Government Minister Bhagat Chuni Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Local Government Som Parkash, Principal Secretary Local Government Suresh Kumar, Special Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar and KS Pannu, Secretary Expenditure Jaspal Singh, CA GAMADA Sarabjit Singh, Secretary Local Government R.K. Verma and Director Local government AK Sinha other senior officers of the state government.