The Punjab government would spend Rs 8,635 crore to provide basic amenities in the state after the establishment of the State Urban Development Mission (SUDM), an over-arching body to direct policy and programme formulation for holistic development in the state. The mission would be created for full coverage of all basic amenities, recognising contextual specifications of all cities.
A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting of the local government department. Badal said that under this mission the state government would spend Rs 8,635 crore to provide 100 per cent basic amenities in terms of water supply and sewage treatment plants (STP), roads and slum development/housing for urban poor in all the towns of the state during next three years.
Badal further said that Rs 1,470 crore had already been spent on various ongoing development projects in 81 cities. He emphasised that these ongoing works should be completed in a time-bound manner and schemes for the remaining 60 towns should also be prepared for implementation as early as possible.
