Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked all the departments and implementation agencies to fully draw funds to the tune of Rs.500 crore sanctioned under various ongoing RIDF projects by NABARD positively before the end of current fiscal. Presiding over a high level meeting with the senior officers of the NABARD led by its Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta and of state government here at CMO this morning, Mr. Badal said that the top priority should be accorded to accomplish these projects by 31st March, 2015. The Chief Minister said that it was all the more important and urgent for these departments to get RIDF XII & XIII projects completed on priority by the stipulated dead line as most of the projects may not be allowed to spill over in the next fiscal as hinted by the NABARD authorities. The Chief Minister was apprised that the unaccomplished projects included; soil and water conservation (Rs.70.80), water supply and sanitation (Rs.75 crore), PWD (Rs.132 crore), education (Rs. 22 crore) animal husbandry and dairy development (Rs.53 crore), Punjab mandi board (Rs.137 crore) and Irrigation (Rs.65 crore). He asked the concerned secretaries to get these funds released immediately from the NABARD to ensure timely completion of the already sanctioned projects on the top priority.
In a bid to further intensify the efforts for ensuring overall development and prosperity in the state, the Chief Minister also directed the administrative Secretaries of different departments to prepare detailed project reports under RIDFXX of nearly Rs.700 crore for onward submission to NABARD for getting requisite funds released for these development projects expeditiously. Taking part in the deliberations, Chief General Manager NABARD Mr. Naresh Gupta listed the pending projects already sanctioned by the bank and asked the concerned departments/agencies for their prompt completion without any further delay.Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included: Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. G.Vajralingam, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, 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 Principal Secretaries to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, MD Punjab Agro Mr. KS Pannu, Director Technical Education Mr. V.Pursartha, General Manager NABARD Mr.LR Ramachandram and Manager NABARD Mr. Rakesh.