To boost the development work in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today released Rs 211 crore and presented cheques worth Rs 58 crore to 37 urban local bodies (ULBs).
Describing the money as a 'social cheque', the chief minister directed the ULBs to ensure that it is spent in a transparent manner. He also instructed the officials concerned to immediately start work on all pending development projects.
A spokesperson said Amarinder Singh assured that his government would ensure equitable expenditure, without indulging in any discrimination as was "done by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government against the areas represented by the Congress".
The chief minister said his government was in the process of arranging a loan of Rs 1,540 crore for achieving 100 per cent coverage of the water supply and sewerage system in the areas under the urban local bodies.
The amount was expected to be released soon, he said, adding that the government was also expecting an additional grant of Rs 34.91 crore to be released soon through PIDB.
Speaking on the occasion, Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu thanked the chief minister for the release of the development project fund, which he described as Amarinder Singh's Diwali gift to the people of Punjab.
Responding to concerns expressed by some of the municipal councillors present at the cheque distribution ceremony, the chief minister said there was no question of him supporting Rana Gurjit Singh as the Justice Narang Commission had cleared the cabinet minister of charges of corruption in the sand mine auctions.
Regarding progress in the journalist KJ Singh murder case, he said the police were on the job and the culprits would be nabbed and brought to book. He also assured that those behind the murder of an RSS worker in Ludhiana would be caught soon.
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