Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Sunday announced several projects for the development of Muktsar, including construction of Railway Over Bridge (ROB) on the Jalalabad road, upgradation of the stadium and the Panjab University (PU) regional centre.

The FM made the announcements at a press conference after paying tributes, on behalf of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, at the Maghi Shaheedi Jor Mela. On the issue of the Akali decision to hold political conference at the Mela, Manpreet said religious functions should be free from politics.

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The Congress had strictly followed the directive of the Akal Takht by not holding any such conference at Fatehgarh Sahib, and now at Muktsar, and all other parties should also do the same instead of trying to take political mileage through such programmes, he added.

Taking congisance of the lack of development in the region, Manpreet said that funds for work of ROB on Jalalabad road, which was pending since its inauguration by the former deputy CM some years ago, would be released soon. He said,the government would also soon release funds for repair of the stadium. He pointed out that the Muke-e-Minar and the four Yadgari gates were built by Amarinder Singh’s previous government. On the upgradation of the PU regional centre at Muktsar, he said the state government had sought a report from PU Chandigarh regarding its fiscal deficit and the state would make provisions for the same in the budget.

The state government would also provide funds for the purchase of land for development of a park and a solid waste dump in Muktsar, said the Minister, making it clear that development works would not be stalled due to paucity of funds. He said the people of Punjab had shown their confidence in the Congress, which was trying its best to fulfill their expectations. He also said that 428 points in the poll manifesto, the government had implemented 125 in the first go.

The previous government had left the treasury empty but the Congress government still managed to initiate farm debt waiver and implemented its promise of power to industry at Rs 5 per unit.
Citing the record production of cotton and paddy, Manpreet said this had led to Rs 15,000 Crore additional financial infusions in the state economy.

He referred to the Rs 31,000 Crore food credit amount taken by the Akalis, who even got loans against future income of Mandi Board and Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) to fill their own coffers. The FM said, the Congress government was doing its best to bring the state’s economy back on track. He added that from the fourth budget onwards the state government would become revenue-surplus.