Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced a scheme to develop two waterlogging-prone villages in the state.
Ratta Khera and Ratta Khera (Chota) villages will be developed as "model villages" through infrastructure building and promotion of skill training and allied farming sectors at a cost of Rs 23 crore.
Addressing a gathering after announcing launch of the projects here, the Chief Minister said the scheme has been launched on a pilot basis in these two villages and will be replicated in other parts of the state after getting the desired results here.
He said in the last two decades, these two villages have been adversely affected due to waterlogging as a result of which people are facing a lot of economic and social problems.
Badal said efforts must be made to optimally harness the opportunities in skill training and allied farming sector for supplementing the income of the villagers.
He said efforts are being made by the state government for tackling the menace of waterlogging in these areas.
Badal said a comprehensive planning for this scheme has been made by the Planning Department of the state in consultation with various other government departments.
Under this project, a sum of Rs 23 crore will be spent on various development works in these villages including construction of toilets, schools, community sheds, anganwadi centres, new houses and repairing of old houses, besides various other projects for the public, he said.
Earlier, while replying to a query regarding the demand reportedly made by some BJP leaders for resignation of Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Akali legislator Avinash Chander, Badal said, "If name of any person crops up in any case that does not make him a culprit".
Action can be taken against anybody only if there is adequate proof against him, he added.
Chander's name has cropped up in connection with a synthetic drug racket.
