CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan of Rs. 123.3 crore under Major Extension, Renovation and Modernization (ERM) project for the rehabilitation of 1st Patiala Feeder and Kotla Branch in a phased manner.

Decision to this effect was taken here Monday by Punjab Chief Minister,  Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the senior officers of the Irrigation Department.  Badal informed that it would enhance the capacity of 1 st Patiala Feeder from 3600 causics to 4914 causics   and Kotla Branch from 2550 to 3304 causics. Under this plan the 1500 villages of districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Barnala would be benefited and 1.7 lac acres of additional land would come under canal irrigation added Badal.

He further said that during the first phase of this work Rs. 30 crore would be spent on the 79514 ft. long 1st Patiala Feeder along and Rs. 2 crore on 2nd Patiala Feeder by the end of January 2008 to complete this work. The Chief Minister also informed that Rs. 18.5 crore would be spent by the state government and Rs. 13.5 crore by the Government of India (GoI).