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Centre’s nod for several Punjab projects

Chandigarh: Punjab has entered a major phase of development with the Centre giving its nod to several major projects, including the Rs. 18991-crore Sri Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery at Bathinda, the State Government said on Sunday.

“It is the biggest ever development project in the history of Punjab to be set up in 1200 acres and having direct and indirect employment potential for 1.5 lakh people,” a Government spokesman said here.

The Centre has also approved Inter-city Transit Projects worth Rs. 3035 crore comprising a network of four-lane and six-lane expressways in Punjab.

The Centre also gave clearance to the expeditious completion of the 6-lane expressway to link Chandigarh with Ludhiana and 4-lane highways for Ludhiana-Moga-Ferozepur and Chandigarh-Ropar-Kiratpur Sahib segments.

In addition, the Centre gave a commitment to “actively pursue” the 4-lane highway project for the Chandigarh-Patiala -Sangrur and Bathinda route.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has also sought “expeditious Central approval and assistance” for generating additional 8200 MWs of electricity in the State over the next three-and-a-half years.

Badal had also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release Rs. 9842 crore that the State Government was due to receive under the rural electrification scheme and the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programmes (APRDP).

Making a strong plea for Central-assisted power projects, Badal sought allotment of 25 per cent extra power-- approximately 1300 MWs-- from future hydro projects. Besides, the Chief Minister also urged the Centre to allocate gas for Doraha GCGT Station and for giving connectivity to Punjab from the National Gas Grid through Dadari-Nangal pipeline.

Mr. Badal has pressed the Centre to immediately release Rs. 165 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) for electricity supply to all rural households in Punjab.

The schemes are aimed at providing 4.04 lakh connections to rural households including 1.49 lakh BPL households.

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