Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention for the Planning Commission's approval to the Rs 3,277.57-crore-master plan to eliminate waterlogging in the state and subsequently release grants for undertaking the required project works.
In a letter to Manmohan Singh, the CM on Tuesday reiterated that vast areas of Punjab would turn into barren lands, thereby depriving a large population of their primary source of agricultural income, in the absence of such a proposed plan awaiting the Centre's nod.
He also told the PM that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had recently passed a resolution strongly recommending to the union government for finding a permanent solution to waterlogging in the state.
Badal mentioned the recent aftermath of the unprecedented rains in which the vulnerable areas in the south of Punjab were badly hit, resulting in damage to crops on a large scale.
He pointed out the visit of the members of the 14th Finance Commission to Muktsar district and also the assessment of the situation by the Rainfed Authority of India.
He further wrote he had twice updated him on this major problem but unfortunately their meeting could not materialize on both occasion due to 'latter's prior engagements'
Badal also pointed out that he led a jointparty delegation of the state to the Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who in principle agreed to the assessment report demanding the central funds to check the menace under the proposed master plan.
He further wrote he had twice updated him on this major problem but unfortunately their meeting could not materialize on both occasion due to 'latter's prior engagements'
Badal also pointed out that he led a jointparty delegation of the state to the Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who in principle agreed to the assessment report demanding the central funds to check the menace under the proposed master plan.