Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today sought a 'special
category' status for Punjab to facilitate restoration of the 90:10
sharing pattern for Centrally sponsored schemes, to enable the state to
expedite its development programmes.
At a meeting here with NITI
Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, the chief minister also reiterated the
state's demand for central assistance for development, including a
special package for border areas and river protection along the border,
in the interest of national security.
Describing the meeting as a
preliminary one, an official release said the chief minister underlined
the need for differential treatment for Punjab in view of its active
border, with a hostile neighbour, and dense population.
Pointing
out the the sharing pattern for Punjab had been changed to 50:50, Singh
called for it to be restored to the original 90:10, which is now
applicable only to special category states.
In this context, he called for inclusion of Punjab in the list of special category states, on account of its "volatile" border.
He
again raised the issue of central support for loan waiver for Punjab
farmers and financial assistance to check burning of crop residue, while
seeking a special package for modernisation of irrigation
infrastructure.
Singh also underlined the need for central
assistance in conservation and more efficient use of ground water, which
is fast depleting, leading to critical shortage of water for irrigation
purposes in the state, the statement said.
The issue of
execution of the much-delayed PGI Satellite Centre project at Ferozepur
was also raised by the chief minister during the meeting.
Sanctioned
more than four years ago, the project is yet to take off, depriving the
people of the region of some much-needed medical facilities, Singh told
Kumar.
The chief minister sought the Centre's support in
coverage of operation and maintenance of Rural Water Supply scheme under
MGNREGA to help the state government fast-track the supply of this
critical resource to the villages.
Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand and Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal were also present.
PTI
