Rs 1,540 cr development package for 107 cities: Sidhu

The Punjab government unveiled a Rs 1,540 crore development package for 107 cities in the state, with Fardikot, Kotkapura and Jaito, all set to witness a transformation before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Disclosing this, Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the package was aimed at providing better sewerage, water supply and roads to the people of the state.
Sidhu said that a sum of Rs 216.67 crore was sanctioned for sewerage, water supply and road sectors in Fardikot in response to a demand by MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon.
The sewerage works in Faridkot city, Kotkapura and Jaito would be completed before the next year's Lok Sabha polls at a cost of Rs 93.11 crore, Rs 87.91 crore and Rs 35.65 crore, respectively, he added.

Lashing out at the previous SAD-BJP regime, Sidhu said they had "regressed" the state during their decade-long "misrule" and had then tried to woo the people just before the 2017 Assembly polls by releasing a meager Rs seven crore and laying foundation stones for the sewerage works.
The minister challenged SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal to a debate anywhere on development-related issues concerning Punjab.

Sidhu also reiterated the state government's commitment to the maintenance of law and order in the state, as well as the facilitation of NRI Punjabis keen to invest in Punjab.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president and MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar said that the 24 foundation stones laid by the previous SAD-BJP regime for development of sewerage projects had seen no progress.

The Amarinder Singh government would now ensure their implementation, he said, adding that the government would implement every single promise made to the people.