CM meets Union Ministers, returns ‘empty-handed’

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 26

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s meetings with Union Ministers — Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development — reportedly failed to elicit tangible gains.

Many attribute this to Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal being among regular callers on ministers with a list of demands which are sometimes repetitive in nature.

Going by official version of the Punjab government, the ministers gave assurances to Badal to look into the issues flagged by him during today’s meetings.

During his meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Badal sought “fast-tracking” of the expansion of Naya Nangal-based National Fertiliser Ltd. He sought release of Rs1,200 crore for the purpose. The unit’s capacity is to be upgraded from 5 to 15 lakh tonnes.

He also urged, among others, release of Rs1,375 crore as special funds for rejuvenation of the Uppar Bari Doab Canal (UDBC) passing through Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and the sanction of Rs18 crore to upgrade Sirhind Canal and Bisit Doab Canal.

During his meeting with Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Badal pleaded continuation of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna as a central scheme with 100 per cent funding and the existing sharing pattern of central schemes — National Health Mission and the National Food Security Mission.

The minister is claimed to have agreed to the release funds for establishing RRC at Jodhpur Romana village in Bathinda and for mission mode for fisheries in waterlogged areas of the state.

During the meeting with Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh, the list of demands included the clearance of pending projects worth Rs227 crore relating to drinking water. The minister is claimed to have agreed to release funds to address the water-related problem.