Six panchayats from Patiala pledge 5% of FD funds for flood relief

As many as six cash-rich village panchayats of the district have been directed to deposit five percent of the amount from the fixed deposits (FD) and transfer it into the account of director, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Punjab.

The instructions were issued days after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on announced to embark Mega Rehabilitation and Cleanliness Drive worth Rs 100 crore in Flood-Affected Areas across the state.

On Friday, the government had asked 288 cash-rich panchayats to contribute 5 per cent of their reserves for flood relief efforts as it awaits clarity on Rs 12,128 crore allocated by the Centre to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

In total, these panchayats have Rs 618.83 crore in their FDs. If the panchayats make the contribution, the state government will immediately get Rs 30.94 crore for flood relief works.

The letter No 3099, the copy of which is with Th Tribune, has been issued by district development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) states, “During the review of the flood hit villages of Punjab the director rural development and panchayat department has directed that in those blocks in which Shamlat lands of the villages have been acquired and the money given in lieu of it are kept in the bank accounts of the Panchayats in the form of fix deposits (FD).”

“Instructions have been issued to get the resolution approved from Panchayats and transfer the five percent of the total FD amount into the account of director rural development and panchayat department Mohali and inform the department concerned about the same”, reads the letter.

Confirming the development, DDPO Patiala Mohinderjit Singh said, “We have identified nearly six villages in Patran block where the Panchayats will file a resolution and send the funds.”