Chandigarh: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday announced the release of a ₹332 crore instalment for development works across rural areas of Punjab.
Next ₹334 Crore Instalment by December-End
He said the next installment of ₹334 crore would be released by December-end or in the first week of January, ensuring a continuous flow of resources for rural uplift.
The Punjab Finance Minister (FM) told the media here that the AAP government has launched development works from the very first day of assuming the reins of the state, and this installment will be used for various development works of gram panchayats, including sanitation boxes in villages.
Funds Divided into Tied and Untied Categories
Giving details of the funds released, FM Cheema said the total instalment of ₹332 crore is being strategically divided into Tied and Untied funds to ensure both general local development and specific mandated sanitation works.
He said a grant of ₹156 crore is being given as Untied funds, which the Punjab gram panchayats can use for any development work in their respective jurisdiction.
Conversely, ₹176 crore will be used as Tied funds, which can only be used for the purpose of sanitation works in the villages of Punjab.
The overall grant will be distributed in the ratio of 70:20:10 among the gram panchayats, panchayat samitis, and zila parishads, FM Cheema said.
Cheema Refutes Allegations by Union Minister Ravneet Bittu
Replying to a media query regarding Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu’s allegations about the state government’s use of central funds, FM Cheema said the Union Minister’s remarks “reflect his lack of information, and also suggest a lack of understanding about the SNA SPARSH system”.
He said under this mechanism, after the credit of the state’s share by the state government (as per the sharing pattern between the Centre and the state), the Government of India credits its share directly into the RBI account of the scheme.
Hence, this SNA SPARSH mechanism ensures real-time payments from funds of both the Central and Punjab governments.
FM Urges Union Minister to Stop Misinformation
Cheema urged Union Minister of State Bittu to refrain from spreading misinformation and instead disclose the layout plan shared by the Centre with Punjab for the Rajpura-Chandigarh railway line project.