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Journalism of Courage
NAWANSHAHR, Nov 13: Development works in the state would not be allowed to suffer because of paucity of funds and the Panjab Government would soon mobilise funds to the tune of Rs 800 crore from saving schemes and other resources to tide over the current financial situation, said Finance Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, at Balachur yesterday. He was there to lay the foundation stone of the Rs 50 lakh new building complex of M. R. City Public School.
The finance minister said that there was no financial crisis in the state, while adding that all government cheques were being honoured by banks.
Another factor for the current economic situation was the implementation of the state pay commission report which led to a 40 per cent increase in the wages of the state government employees, that cost the state exchequer about Rs 900 crore in one year, he said.
He said that exchange of finances between the Centre to the state government was a common practice, while adding that the Punjab Government had always made timely payments to the Centre.
Kanwaljit Singh on the occasion revealed that the work on the second phase of the Kandi Canal from Garhshankar to Balachaur for providing irrigation facilities to the area would be started next year with aid from the World Bank.
The Ranjit Singh Dam would be inaugurated on February 12 next year and it would start generating power in September 1999 he said, adding that the thermal plant at Lehra Mohabbat too would start functioning next year. All this would lead to an end to shortage of electricity in the state, the finance minister said. Kanwaljit Singh further announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for development works in Balachaur. Nand Lal, MLA, Balachaur, Darshan Lal, block Samiti member, Jaspal Singh Jaddli, youth Akali leader and Pritam Singh Johal, SDM, Balachaur, were among others who were present on the occasion, said an official release today.
