Fasttrack Shahpur Kandi dam project: Captain to Gadkari

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has sought inclusion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project in the fasttrack priority projects category with 90:10 funding ratio between the Centre and the state.

During a meeting with Union minister of road transport and highways, shipping and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari, the chief minister sought the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to bring the Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder Canals in the priority list to enable central funding under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. He also reiterated his request four-laning of one section each of NH-703 and NH-10 to connect the state’s remaining four districts – Ferozepur, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka – with four-lane National Highways, while seeking the Centre’s permission for the state’s public works department to take up four-laning works of National Highways.

Gadkari, while favouring 90:10 ratio for Shahpur Kandi dam, suggested that the state government take up the issue directly with the Prime Minister, the chief minister told mediapersons after the meeting. In response to a question, he said the SYL matter was not discussed during the meeting.

Referring to Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder Canals, for which the Government of India had released central assistance for relining before listing 99 projects on priority, the CM said he told the minister that since this project was not included in the list, the PMO should be urged to intervene so that the Union cabinet’s approval for the same could be obtained.