Giving a much-needed push to various welfare schemes, including the Centrally-sponsored schemes, the Punjab Government on Wednesday released Rs1221 crore to clear various pending payments while assuring that paucity of funds will not be allowed to obstruct development.

 

At the same time, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also directed all Departments to mobilize adequate resources through prudent fiscal management to ensure clearance of pending payments on priority.

 

Retirement benefits had been cleared till December 31, 2017, with the release of Rs413.77 crore, while Rs43.73 crore had been released towards reimbursement of medical Bills up to March 20, 2018, said a spokesperson adding that all payments of GPF advances amounting to Rs147.49 crore of existing employees had been cleared up to December 31, 2017.

 

Besides, the State Government has also cleared pending bills of rent, POL, electricity, office expenses etc worth Rs119.38 crore till December 31, 2017, while Rs69 crore has been cleared under Ashirwad Scheme up to December 31, 2017.

 

Similarly, Rs46.98 crore has been paid under NABARD for the execution of various ongoing development schemes across the state till March 20, 2018, while Rs40 crore and Rs22.23 crore had been released for strengthening or development of infrastructure in the Police Department and the Judiciary respectively.

 

Funds to the tune of Rs5.53 crore had been released for video conferencing in courts and Rs7.34 crore for projects being undertaken by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

 

Payment of honorarium worth Rs6.57 crore had also been made to the Nambardars up to March 20, 2018, the spokesman said.

 

Under centrally-sponsored schemes, Rs52.62 crore had been released for Central Road Fund (CRF), besides Rs50 crore each for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), Rs32.64 crore under National Health Mission (NHM), Rs25 crore for National Education Mission (NEM), and Rs16.53 crore for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).