Punjab govt giving cold shoulder to Central schemes,says Preneet

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur on Monday said the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab was not cooperating in implementation of Centrally-sponsored schemes in the state. She said that due to the non-cooperative attitude of the Punjab government,the state and its people were unable to accrue the benefits of the schemes.

She said funds earmarked under Central schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) were not being utilised in Punjab as the state government was yet to provide its share in the schemes.

She said she was facing “procedural difficulties” in implementing developmental programmes for the state,especially Patiala. She cited the example of Punjab’s medical education department,which was yet to respond to a scheme for upgrading the health facilities at the local Government Rajindra Hospital.

She earlier unveiled a plan for supply of purified water through reverse osmosis system to the residents of Patiala town,after viewing a presentation made by an NGO Naandi Foundation. Preneet promised to provide the money for the project from her MPLAD funds.