CHANDIGARH: Anirudh Tewari, chief secretary, government of Punjab chaired a high-powered committee meeting on Monday to review the rural infrastructure projects sanctioned by NABARD under RIDF and other concessional schemes in the state.

The meeting was coordinated by KAP Sinha, principal secretary (finance) Punjab. The meeting was attended by principal secretaries and the secretaries of administrative departments and HoDs from different departments.

The NABARD team was led by Dr Rajiv Siwach, chief general manager, NABARD Punjab. CGM NABARD apprised that during the current financial year as against the target of Rs 750.00 crore, projects involving loan of Rs 823.06 crore have been sanctioned by NABARD under RIDF in the State which is 49% higher than the previous year and 109% of the current years’ sanction target.

The CGM, NABARD also informed that during the year projects in diversified fields like large surface-based drinking water projects, additional classrooms, the state- of-the-art dairy infrastructure in Bassi Pathana and construction of storage godowns have been sanctioned.

Further, an amount of Rs 400.04 crore has been released to the State in the current financial year for the RIDF project.

The Chief Secretary advised all the implementing departments to submit a shelf of projects for RIDF XXVIII to FD by January 31, 2022. CGM NABARD requested the implementing departments to speed up the tendering and implementation process, so that the people at large can be benefitted.

The CS lauded the efforts of the Finance Department, implementing departments and NABARD for creation of rural infrastructure in the state of Punjab as it will provide a boost to development of critical rural infrastructure in the state.