SYL canal has to be constructed: Khattar

Expressing the state government's resolve to construct SYL Canal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said a proposal to allocate Rs 100 crore has been made in the state Budget.
The chief minister was interacting with media persons after the presentation of the state budget for the year 2017-18 in the ongoing budget session here today.
Earlier, Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu said while presenting the budget that the government was committed for construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal and getting the state its rightful share of the waters of Ravi-Beas.
"I propose to allocate an outlay of Rs 100 crore specially for this purpose in 2017-18. I assure the august House that for construction of the SYL even if Rs 1000 crore is required, we will provide the same," the FM said.

Hearing of the Presidential Reference which was pending for the last over 12 years was decided by the Supreme Court of India on November 10, 2016 in favour of Haryana, Abhimanyu said in his budget speech.
He said that on November 28 last year, Haryana had submitted a memorandum to the President of India for his personal intervention to ensure early completion of the remaining portion of SYL Canal in Punjab and to deliver long pending justice to the people of Haryana.

Khattar, while haling the budget said that no new tax was introduced and described the budget as "growth oriented, balanced and pro-people".

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that a hike of 15 to 30 per cent has been made in allocation of budget for different departments so as to further accelerate the pace of development.
In a reply to yet another question, Khattar said the state government was considering a proposal under which family members of martyrs would get financial assistance even without the receipt of necessary certificate.
Earlier, talking to media persons, Abhimanyu said it will
be for the first time that the state government would have its Asset Management Cell to keep a record of its properties in Haryana as well as other states, which would help in their effective management.

A fund namely Asset Augmentation Fund would also be set up for the rejuvenation and upkeep of old buildings like schools, colleges and hospitals.
The Finance Minister said that although Haryana's geographical area is 1.34 per cent of the country's total area and has 2.09 per cent of country's total population, yet its contribution to the nation's GDP is 3.6 per cent.
He said Haryana has constantly been making its impact on the growing economy of the country.
He said that as the Railway Budget has now been made a part of the Union Budget for the year 2017-18, the Haryana Government too has, for the first time, mentioned railway projects in its budget.

Haryana and the Railways have signed an agreement and a joint venture company would be formed during this year to maintain joint projects.
Abhimanyu claimed that it is for the first time that any state government has spent a sum of Rs 2,405 crore in two years on the repair and maintenance of rural roads.