PATIALA: Participating in the debate on supplementary demands, Akali MP from Anandpur Sahib
Prem Singh Chandumajra has demanded a special package for Punjab on the grounds of being a border state.
Chandumajra said Punjab had to bear the brunt of partition, freedom struggle and Indo-Pak as well as Indo-China wars. The state is also facing shifting of the industry due to special packages given to the neighbouring hill state.
He said several areas bordering the Himachal Pradesh were deprived of irrigation facilities and a special fund was needed to make arrangements for lift irrigation systems.
He also demanded that the rail linkage project to connect Mohali with Rajpura and Khanna and
Rahon should be expedited. Besides, a demand for an additional Rs 1,100 crore to the capacity enhancement of national fertiliser plant in Nangal was also sought.
He also regretted that after contributing 67% for national food security, the state farmers were facing loss of soil fertility and depleting groundwater. He said 95% grains being produced in Punjab were being sent for national pool, but the state government was being asked to pay the debt of Rs 3100 crores against the cash credit limit to procure the crops. Besides, he also spoke for withdrawal of GST on agricultural implements.
Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra
