City to get Rs 20 crore for development projects

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

The halted or pending development works will start soon in the city as Finance Minister and local MLA Manpreet Badal has announced to give Rs 20 crore grant to the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB).

MCB officials have even prepared estimate of works, which are needed to be done urgently. They would get it approved in the general house meeting in the coming days.

As per the MCB officials, the works department has prepared a list of around 130 development works, which would be done with the Rs 20 crore grant.

The major works include laying premix, interlocking tiles and road repairs.

Even the work of desilting the DAV pond and constructing a park there at a cost of Rs 5.50 crore has also been included in the list.

Earlier, the state government, citing financial crisis, had directed the corporations and councils under the Local Bodies Department to stop the development works going on with the Punjab government funds and had asked to return the funds they had with them.

However, undergoing work will go on, but their scope with not increase and even if work has been awarded, but its work is not started, then these works will be initiated.

The corporations and councils were asked to take permission from the state government before starting any development work.

The MCB too did not get any grant or funds from the state government. Even its GST instalment was not released as per routine due to which the MCB is facing problems in giving salaries to its employees.

Congress councilor Jugraj Singh said Manpreet Badal was giving Rs 20 crore grant to the MCB for carrying on various development works in the city.

A senior MCB official, on condition of anonymity, said confirmed that an estimate of around 130 development works, which are to be carried out with the state government grant, had been prepared.