Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to demand special economic package at NITI Aayog meeting today

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will seek a comprehensive economic package for the state when he makes his presentation during a meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council on Saturday, according to sources.

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The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The state will demand additional funds for development of border areas since Punjab shares over 553 kms of border with a hostile country, Pakistan.

The funds will be sought for building public education and health infrastructure, besides giving incentive to the industry for investing in the border areas, a source said. “He will also highlight how incentives given to neighbouring hill states had led to a flight of industry from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu, hitting the state”s economy,” he added. During an all-party meeting convened by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on May 10, it was unanimously decided by leaders of all state parties that they should together seek a special economic package for Punjab.

CM Mann was also present in the meeting.

In the wake of the ceasefire announced following border hostilities with Pakistan, the CM will also be presenting the state’s case for the deployment of its police force as the second line of defence along the border.

He is also expected to draw the attention of the Centre towards the fight against the drug smuggling from Pakistan and will seek funds to help the state government curb the menace, according to the source.

The source said the CM would also speak on the water-sharing dispute with Haryana, and seek re-constitution of the Bhakra Beas Management Board.

Mann has already gone on record to say that he will oppose the recent move of the Centre to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force at Bhakra Dam Project.