Release funds for border farmers: Badal

The Punjab CM urges HRD Minister Arjun Singh not to dilute the funding pattern of the Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan.

Arguing that farmers near the Indo-Pak border were living in penury and risky conditions, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has urged the Centre to release the compensation due to them at the earliest.

HT Image

During his meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday, said he had personally listened to the tales of the farmers who lived in penury and risky conditions while cultivating their land near the border.

Badal also sought payment of Rs 36.6 crore pending against the Centre for construction of judicial court complexes on 50:50 expenditure to be borne by the state and Centre.

Modernisation of state police also came up for discussion and the chief minsiter asked Patil to release Rs 1.73 crore for the purpose not released last year.

He pleaded for maintaining status quo while complaining about alleged violation by the Chandigarh Union Territory administration of the stipulated 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana for appointment of employees on deputation under the Punjab Reorganisation Act.

In a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Badal asked for timely arrangements for adequate supply of fertilisers during the kharif season, an official statement said.