Dhindsa gives no assurance on DA to state employees

Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa today refused to give any assurance on releasing eight per cent DA instalment to state employees.
"Punjab government is committed to giving DA instalment to its employees, but I cannot say when we will give it to them," he said, claiming many state governments had not yet given DA instalments to its employees.
The Centre has already given 8 per cent DA to employees, pensioners and family pensioners from Jan 1, 2013.
Asked about the third instalment of the fifth Pay Commission arrears from the period ween January 1, 2006 to July 31, 2009, Dhindsa said he was hopeful that some part of it would be given in this fiscal.

On taking financial help to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore from Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), he said the money would not be used for day to day expenses of the government and clarified that it was not a loan, but a payback by PUDA in return of government land amounting to Rs 5,000 crore being transferred to it for building infrastructure.
Dhindsa denied allegation of Punjab Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa who claimed that the state was heading towards "financial emergency".
"Revenue growth has been slow so far, but we are hopeful of a steady growth from next month," he said.