Badal approves Rs 12.24 cr for construction of septic tanks

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has approved Rs 12.24 crore for construction of septic tanks in economically-weaker households in 98 villages of the state.
The facility would be provided in 98 villages, where the work of laying down the sewerage system was being done through the World Bank-aided scheme Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, an official spokesperson said.
He said that the CM has approved Rs 12.24 crore to construct septic tanks "free of cost" in 13,599 households to extend the benefit of the World Bank aided-scheme to the economically weaker and disadvantaged sections of the society.
Families of Scheduled Castes, BPL, small farmers and those having a physically challenged or women head would be entitled for availing the benefits of this scheme, he said.

Meanwhile, in a bid to boost the plummeting underground water table, Badal has granted approval for slew of incentives to farmers for installing Micro Irrigation (MI) pumps.
The spokesperson said that the step aims at ensuring the optimum utilisation of water resources.

The Chief Minister has given his nod to enhance incentives under MI Scheme from the existing 50 per cent to 80 per cent of the actual market cost for the General Category farmers and 90 per cent for the female farmers and those belonging to Scheduled Caste communities.
In another decision, Badal has removed the cap in terms of area for availing the subsidy. The state government would now provide subsidy to the farmers across the board and there would be no limit in terms of area.

As per Central norms, subsidies would be provided to beneficiaries having land up to five hectares but the state government has decided to lift the cap on area.
"Consequently, the additional burden meted out on the scheme by including the farmers with more than five hectares of land would be borne by the state government," the spokesperson said.