The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state capital on September 11 has rekindled the hope of a fiscal package for the state among top functionaries.
The visit has also ignited a debate regarding the transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas to the state. The issue has been hanging fire since late 1960s. The focus will be on Modi, who will arrive here to inaugurate the UT airport terminal.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been demanding a fiscal package from Modi for a while, but in vain. The CM has time and again demanded the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and raised the issue of the distribution of river waters.
When the Prime Minister recently visited Bihar, he announced a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state. Taking inspiration from this gesture, Badal, last week, handed over a long list of demands to the PM.
Badal has demanded the restoration of the cut imposed by NABARD on short-term farm loans by a reduction in state’s allocation from Rs 6,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore. He also sought concessions to the industry in the state on the pattern of hill states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. He urged the PM for early clearance of canal renovation projects worth Rs 4,418 crore.
The CM has also sought the reimbursement of Rs 2,694 crore already paid in lieu of the special term loan of Rs 5,800 crore advanced to the state for combating insurgency during the militancy era. Since the Centre had waived this term loan, the state government is now seeking reimbursement of paid instalments.
The state has been seeking a fiscal package for the past about seven years. Manpreet Badal as the Finance Minister negotiated with the Centre for about a year on the issue, but in vain.
Chief Minister Badal had then said that the Congress-ruled Centre was discriminating against the state. But with the BJP in power at the Centre, the state hopes to get a fiscal package. With the state battling crop damage, the funds could boost its sagging economy.
The visit has also ignited a debate regarding the transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas to the state. The issue has been hanging fire since late 1960s. The focus will be on Modi, who will arrive here to inaugurate the UT airport terminal.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been demanding a fiscal package from Modi for a while, but in vain. The CM has time and again demanded the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and raised the issue of the distribution of river waters.
When the Prime Minister recently visited Bihar, he announced a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state. Taking inspiration from this gesture, Badal, last week, handed over a long list of demands to the PM.
Badal has demanded the restoration of the cut imposed by NABARD on short-term farm loans by a reduction in state’s allocation from Rs 6,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore. He also sought concessions to the industry in the state on the pattern of hill states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. He urged the PM for early clearance of canal renovation projects worth Rs 4,418 crore.
The CM has also sought the reimbursement of Rs 2,694 crore already paid in lieu of the special term loan of Rs 5,800 crore advanced to the state for combating insurgency during the militancy era. Since the Centre had waived this term loan, the state government is now seeking reimbursement of paid instalments.
The state has been seeking a fiscal package for the past about seven years. Manpreet Badal as the Finance Minister negotiated with the Centre for about a year on the issue, but in vain.
Chief Minister Badal had then said that the Congress-ruled Centre was discriminating against the state. But with the BJP in power at the Centre, the state hopes to get a fiscal package. With the state battling crop damage, the funds could boost its sagging economy.
