M A I N   N E W S

New Goa mantra for SAD’s success
Jangveer Singh/TNS

Fort Aguada, April 8
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal today gave a lesson to his party MLAs on the “real” financial condition of the state and “taught” them how to defend the government on this front.

Punjab's financial position, often referred to as a “crisis” by the main Opposition Congress and the People's Party of Punjab (PPP), is something Akali managers feel they have not been able to defend properly. Accordingly, Sukhbir made an 80-slide power point presentation to the alliance legislators at the ‘Vichar Manthan’ here today.

Public Relations Minister Bikram Majithia said there was a feeling that Akali legislators were often tongue-tied when questioned on the state’s financial affairs. “The aim was to arm them with facts so that they can take on the Congress propaganda effectively,” he explained.

The SAD president highlighted that Punjab had accumulated "productive" debt which could be used to turn around the economy. He told the MLAs the economy, especially the infrastructure sector, was growing and if revenue kept growing accordingly on the projected lines, Punjab would see a turnaround in four years.

Sukhbir claimed that the state had broken the national record in boosting its revenue by nearly 400 per cent in five years. He said the fiscal debt had been reduced from more than 3 per cent to 1.33 per cent against the national figure of 3.32 per cent. He said the state had not only exceeded the 5.9 per cent target set for it by the Planning Commission but had recorded a growth rate of 7. 2 per cent.

However, more could be done, said the SAD president. He said though revenue from VAT collections was on the rise, only 800 to 900 persons/companies were contributing to most of the VAT. Adviser to the Chief Minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal's suggestion that Sukhbir's presentation be published in the form of a ready reckoner and distributed among legislators was readily accepted.

beach brainstorming
Social Commitments

The SAD president told the MLAs that the government was committed to free power subsidy to farmers and also its social commitments, including the ‘atta dal’ scheme, come what may. He asked the MLAs to assure the people that the party was committed to inclusive growth

Big Ticket Projects

Sukhbir said the first phase of the Talwandi Sabo thermal plant would become operational next year and would be followed by more units. He showed slides of the upcoming Mohali airport besides telling the MLAs that the Bathinda airport was ready and waiting to be inaugurated. Other big ticket development works, including roads and bridges, would bring infrastructure in Punjab to world-class standards in three years.

Thrust Areas

• Diversification of agriculture
• Investor-friendly policies for industry
• 24 x 7 power availability
• Health and education
• Affordable housing
• Cent per cent potable drinking water
• 100% sewerage in cities
• Sewerage in rural areas
• Clean and Green Punjab through solid waste management