Demands special incentives for border districts, upward revision of compensation for land between International border and fence
Rs. 2829Cr for upgradation of infrastructure & equipment to check smuggling from border, incentives for agriculture & industry
Demands share in Indus water, Reiterates YSL
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday presented a strong case of the state before the team of NITI and solicited their support to ensure comprehensive development of the state on one hand and safeguard its interest on the other.
During deliberations with the team led by Member Niti Aayog Prof. Ramesh Chand and Program Director NITI Aayog Sanjeet Singh, the Chief Minister said that it is the high time that the Aayog should generously help the state in preserving its rich legacy in terms of water and Agriculture. He said that the state shares 553 kilometers of the International Border with Pakistan and six border districts Amritsar, Tarn-Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that Special incentives to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K by the Central Government had adversely impacted the economy of border districts in Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that border districts of Punjab need to be supported on the lines of HP, Uttarakhand and J&K to revitalize the state’s trade and industrial sector. Seeking a special incentive package for border districts, he batted for establishment of Agro food processing zone in each border district of Punjab with a special focus on the Basmati rice Industry and Horticultural Produce like Litchi and others. Bhagwant Singh Mann also advocated upgradation of existing Focal Points in border districts and establishing an Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre at Amritsar.
The Chief Minister also sought PLI scheme for Agro Sector, tax benefits for Textile sector, freight Subsidy for industry and subsidized interest rate on term loans and working capital in border districts. He also underscored the need for upward revision of compensation to farmers having land between International Border and border fence asserting that more than 17,000 acres of land fall in between them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that present compensation is given to farmers at a rate of Rs.10,000 per acre per year which should be enhanced Rs 30,000 per acre annually adding that instead of sharing between center and state, this should be totally paid by center as these brave hearts are working for making country self reliant in food production.
In order to strengthen the second line of defence in border regions, the Chief Minister also laid thrust on fortifying the Border Wing Home Guards Scheme to cover all 2107 Border Villages. He also sought enhancement of Duty Allowance from present Rs. 45 per day per jawan (fixed in 1999) to at least Rs. 655 per day per jawan adding that it is imperative for better coordination between Border Villages and BSF. Bhagwant Singh Mann also sought Rs.2829 Crore for upgradation of infrastructure and equipment, including jammers to check the smuggling of weapons and drugs through drone.
The Chief Minister said that it is important as more than 4/5th of the entire Border is without jamming systems thereby posing a major threat to unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann also batted for revision of Vibrant Village Program launched by the Union government to benefit more border villages of the state. He said that Punjab’s Border districts are heavily populated as compared to other States, with 1500 villages within 10 Km of the Border due to which only 101 villages out of total are selected under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab needs to be incentivized so as to cater to other felt needs of the local populace in Border Villages and Towns. He further said that recent skirmishes with Pakistan have highlighted the need for making Border Districts War Resilient due to which bunkers and Air Shelters should be constructed for city population, alternate connecting routes to Border villages, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) should be set up along with state of the art response command and Control Centre in each District, sensors for Street Lights, trauma centers in border cities should be equipped with secondary and tertiary care.