CHANDIGARH: A world bank team led by its India Country Director Isabel Guerrero (Miss) asked the Punjab Government to send a complete proposal for the remodeling and rejuvenation of the 150 years old canal system in the state to augment the water intake capacity.  

The team called on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Kapurthala House late last evening.  Ms.Guerrero said that the world bank would get this proposal thoroughly examined from its technical experts for the remodeling of canal system.   She appreciated the concern of the state government as the ground water was fast depleting and canal water was the only reliable resource and that too was not reachable at the tail ends due to the heavy deposition of silt in the water courses. 

Meanwhile, Badal also urged the world bank for the funding of an ambitious programme of setting up of 140 Adarsh schools for the 'gifted poor' in every block of the state.  He also profusely thanked the world bank for approving two mega projects of safe drinking water and road network in the state that would put Punjab on the high growth trajectory. 

Badal was accompanied by Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh, Principal Secretary Finance DS Kalha and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru besides the Rachid Benemessond, Operations Advisor and Mr.Gajan Pathmanathan, Sector Manager.