Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal asks depts to draw funds of Rs 500 crore under RIDF projects

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked all departments and implementing agencies to fully draw funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore sanctioned under various ongoing Rural Infrastructure Development Fund projects by NABARD before the end of current fiscal.

Presiding over a high level meeting with senior officers of NABARD led by its Chief General Manager Naresh Gupta and those of the state government here, Badal said efforts should be made to accomplish these projects by March 31, 2015.

The Chief Minister said it was important for the departments to get RIDF projects completed on priority by the stipulated deadline as most of these s may not be allowed to spill over in the next fiscal "as hinted by the NABARD authorities."

Badal was apprised of the unaccomplished projects included soil and water conservation (Rs 70.80 crore), 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), according to an official release here.

He asked the concerned secretaries to get these funds expedited from the NABARD to ensure timely completion of the already sanctioned projects.

Taking part in the deliberations, 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.