Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and MP Vikramjit Singh Sahni meeting Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Punjab government has intensified efforts to release Rs 8 thousand crore of Rural Development Fund (RDF) withheld by the Central Government. In this series today, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Food Supply Minister Lal Chand K Taruchak and Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Sahni.
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Chief Secretary Punjab was also present with him. The issue of this amount was discussed in detail. The Finance Minister of Punjab said that the Union Minister has assured him that the matter will be resolved soon.
The amount has been pending for three years
The Central Government has withheld the RDF amount of Punjab for three years. There was correspondence between the two sides many times, but when things did not work out, the Punjab government went to the Supreme Court regarding this matter. But in the last month of November, the government has emphasized on trying to resolve this amount through negotiations instead of court.
In this series, on November 29, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Food and Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak met Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi and demanded release of the RDF dues of the state. Then on December 12, the leaders under the leadership of Vikramjit Singh Sahni met the Union Finance Minister. After this now this meeting has taken place.
Punjab ministers and officials meeting the Union Finance Minister.
People of rural areas are facing problems
Due to non-release of this fund, the government is facing the biggest loss because the work of roads and markets in rural areas is being affected. The government wants this amount to be released soon, so that the area can develop. People of rural areas are facing problems due to this.