The minister shared the information in response to several questions raised in the Lok Sabha.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said that 2,355 works worth Rs 230.9 crore have been completed in Punjab under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
The minister shared the information in response to several questions raised in the Lok Sabha.
One of the questions asked whether the government is aware that the Kandi and border areas of Punjab face geographical disadvantages similar to those in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast India, including difficult terrain, lack of irrigation facilities, frequent security concerns due to proximity to the international border, and backwardness in infrastructure and employment opportunities.
In its written reply, the government stated that Rs 189.06 crore has been released to the Punjab government since the financial year 2014–15 under BADP. It also noted that the programme is currently in its sunset phase, and no new projects are being approved under it.
Another question asked whether the government proposes to introduce a dedicated Central package, special industrial incentives, enhanced border area development funds, or infrastructure projects for the Kandi and border areas of Punjab.
The government responded that the Centre has approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,839 crore till the financial year 2028–29 for the comprehensive development of identified villages located in blocks along international land borders.
The programme will cover villages in states and Union Territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Replying to another query on whether the Centre has received any representation from the Punjab government or public representatives seeking special category status or a special development package for the Kandi and border belt of Punjab, similar to assistance provided to Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states, the government stated that no such representation has been received.
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