Rs125-cr projects approved for border, kandi areas

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

To ensure holistic development of kandi and border areas of the state, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday approved projects and schemes worth Rs125 crore for 2019-20.

The Chief Minister also gave nod to guidelines and criteria for the execution of development projects and schemes.

Of the total approved sum, Rs100 crore has been earmarked for the border region and Rs25 crore for the kandi area. These funds are in addition to the ongoing schemes and programmes, a government spokesperson said after the maiden meeting of the Border and Kandi Area Development Board presided over by the Chief Minister.

Capt Amarinder also gave nod to spend 75 per cent of allocated funds on priority sectors such as health, education, water supply and sanitation, and the remaining funds on other sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, rural development and panchayats, and local government.

On the realignment of kandi canal raised by Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee, comprising Tewari, Balachaur MLA Darshan Lal, engineers from the Water Resources Department, and experts from the field of canal design and management, to suggest ways and means to rectify technical flaws in the construction of the canal.

Capt Amarinder said the allocation of funds would be enhanced to ensure basic facilities of health, education, water supply and sanitation for the people in border and kandi areas.

He conceded another demand of the board by asking the Planning Department to examine the feasibility of fixed tenure of MPs and MLAs as members of the board instead of the prevalent practice of rotation.