Cash-strapped Capt govt eyes rural devp board kitty

MONEY MATTERS State govt proposes to allocate ₹25 crore to each assembly segment

CONG GOVT IS PLANNING A BIG DEVELOPMENT PUSH IN ALL SEGMENTS IN THE RUN UP TO THE 2022 STATE POLLS

CHANDIGARH: As the finance department has expressed its inability to spare ₹2,925 crore for development works in all 117 assembly segments, the state government is now banking on state’s rural development board’s purse, it is learnt. The board has funds as it earns regularly from sale of agricultural produce.

The government had proposed to allocate a sum of ₹25 crore for each assembly segment for development works. In a high-level meeting held last week, discussions were held on sourcing funds. The rural development board, which is a wing of Punjab state agricultural marketing board (Mandi board), comes under the CM for being its ex-officio chairman. The board gets 3% rural development fund from sale of wheat and paddy and 2% on other agricultural produce.

“We earn ₹1,800-2,000 crore annually which is spent on development in rural areas. However, some time, all our income goes in to pay back loans which were procured to fund different state projects and programmes,” said a Mandi Board officer who wished not to be named.

The state government is planning a big development push in all 117 assembly constituencies in the run up to the state polls scheduled for 2022. The works will be supervised by deputy commissioner and the MLA concerned.

“At least the (rural development) board has revenue stream, the finance department doesn’t have,” said a senior officer.

“The discussion for giving funds to all constituencies is going for past one year. I am sure all the MLAs have submitted proposals for development works, but funds are still awaited,” said ruling party MLA Pargat Singh.

MGNREGA, FINANCE PANEL FUNDS NOT TO BE INCLUDED

In a meeting held last week, it was decided that funds allocated under the MGNREGA and those released by finance commission for development works will not be part of the proposed ₹25 crore allocation. “It was also decided that all constituencies will get equal amount (₹25 crore) irrespective of size, population or geographical location,” said an officer.

Rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said the first instalment will be released shortly.