Govt to discourage urban migration

He told the farmers present at the spot to make optimum use of the government lending schemes and pay back the loans within time. He also announced that houses would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh for the 10 Dalit families of the village. He also announced a scheme worth Rs. 5.50 lakh aimed at providing a 24-hour power supply in the village.

Earlier during the day, Tohra laid the foundation stone of a school building at Dadrali Gharore and a bridge to be constructed on a drain in Bibipur village at a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Public Health Narinder Singh said that Punjab would be developed into a model state. He said that the development process has been speeded up in the state and all schemes were being completed on time. He also laid the foundation stone of a water supply scheme to be completed at a cost of Rs. 21 lakh.

State PWD Minister Harmel Singh disclosed that the government has applied for a loan of Rs. 1700 crore from the World Bank for conversion of certain roads into four-lane roads. These roads included Zirakpur-Patiala-Sangrur road, Kharar-Ludhiana road, Moga-Ropar road and Nawanshshar-Phagwara road. He said that loans were also being sought from NABARD and the organisations for laying 2400 km link roads at a cost of Rs. 166 crore, repairing old ones at a cost of Rs. 170 crore, raising the level of planned roads at a cost of Rs. 600 crore and construction of new bridges in place of old unsafe ones.