The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, March 5
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema presents a budget estimate for the financial year 2024-25.
This will be the third budget of the Aam Aadmi Party’s government. The total budget for this financial year is Rs 204918 crore while the agriculture sector has been allocated Rs 13784 crore.
Budget Highlights
Water Supply and Sanitation
An allocation of ₹1,549 crore has been earmarked in FY 2024-25 for executing projects such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), replacement and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, and the establishment and augmentation of surface-water based scheme.
Water Resources
Proposes a new Malwa canal project. This initiative aims to cover approximately 1,78,000 acres, benefiting the districts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Muktsar. This project aims to reduce reliance on groundwater and optimize the under-utilized Punjab’s share of Beas-Satluj river water during the Rabi period.
Local Govt and Urban Development
The Government of Punjab is collaborating with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to improve urban mobility and E-buses would soon run in the cities of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala.
Civil Aviation
A new air terminal at Adampur with a cost of around ₹150 crore, replacing the previous porta cabin capacity of 75 passengers to a 150 passenger capacity has been completed.
Steps are being taken for increasing the air connectivity between Punjab and European countries.
