Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on the Union Minister of State for Science, Technology and Planning Ashwani Kumar here at his residence seeking his personal intervention for getting more funds sanctioned from Centre to ensure overall development of the state in general and that of the border areas in particular.Taking part in the deliberations the Chief Minister urged Ashwani Kumar to sanction adequate funds to carry out developmental projects in the state under centrally sponsored schemes. Emphasizing need for devising a scheme exclusively for cleaning of Ponds in the villages Badal said that it would not only facelift the villages but would also ensure clean and pollution free environment in the rural areas. He impressed upon the Union Minister to formulate a special scheme for optimum utilization of the pond water in the villages through making it potable for human drinking and ensuring the scientific disposal of sludge from them in a pollution free manner. The Chief Minister requested Ashwani Kumar that he could play a pivotal role in the all round development to ensure clean and hygienic atmosphere. The Chief Minister also urged Ashwani Kumar, to ensure that the limit of National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) for the state is increased by about Rs 200 crore so that the development of rural areas could be expedited. Raising the issue of problems being faced by the farmers of the border areas, Badal asked the Union Minister to immediately get released the compensation for the farmers having land near the fencing as they were suffering due to nation’s cause. He also asked Ashwani Kumar to impress upon the GoI to give special incentives for setting up the industrial units in the Border areas so that the new avenues of employment could open for the people residing in these areas. Likewise Badal also demanded special facilities for the people residing in the Border blocks of the state who were not able to avail the benefits of the border areas due to the policies of the Union Government. Responding to the issues raised by Badal, the Union Minister of state assured him that the GoI would take special care for promoting the development of the state and requisite funds would be allocated according to the felt needs of the people residing in the state. Ashwani Kumar apprised the Chief Minister that in order to find some viable solution for utilizing the pond water in the villages he had specially convened a Secretary level meeting next week to the discuss these issues. The Union Minister also assured Badal of looking into all the other matters raised by him. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary SK Sandhu and Special Principal Secretary KJS Cheema.