In order to upgrade the urban infrastructure, Punjab government would release Rs 1,100 crore in January 2011. Already, in the last four years the state government has spend Rs 2,432.80 crore on urban infrastructure, said Manoranjan Kalia , Punjab industry and commerce minister. With this, total amount to be spent in five years by Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government for urban development would be Rs 3,500 crore.
Kalia revealed from February 2007 to December 2010, through the Congress rule from 2002–2007 (February), the faster pace of development was only visible under the leadership of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as compared to that of the Congress regime of Captain Amarinder Singh. He added, in comparison to the SAD-BJP’s Rs 2,432.80-crore funds spent for urban development in four years, the Congress government during its tenure (2002-February 2007) could spend just Rs 1,558.71 crore in its entire regime.
He also alleged the previous Congress-government failed to bring funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) schemes. He informed these schemes were initiated in 2005. In spite of the Congress remaining in power both at the Centre as well as in Punjab from 2005 to 2007, not a single penny came from the Centre. “This happened because no detailed project report (DPR) was given under these schemes for any urban areas’ project,” he said. “It was only after the SAD-BJP government coming to power, the DPR under JNNURM and UIDSSMT were prepared.”