Chandigarh, Nov 13 — Punjab’s finance minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, said the state will distribute a fresh Rs 332 crore to boost rural projects across Punjab.
The money will hit local governments in two parts. Rs 156 crore is “untied” – gram panchayats can spend it on any local development, from roads to schools. The remaining Rs 176 crore is “tied” strictly for village sanitation projects, such as installing new latrines.
Cheema told reporters the funds will be split 70 % to gram panchayats, 20 % to panchayat samitis and the remaining 10 % to zila parishads. He added that another installment of Rs 334 crore is expected by the end of December or the first week of January, ensuring a steady flow of money for rural uplift.
The AAP government has been running development work since taking power, Cheema said, and the fresh disbursement will help keep that momentum. He also explained that the state uses the SNA‑SPARSH system to transfer central funds directly into the RBI account, which he said reduces delays and errors.
When a Union railway minister criticised how Punjab manages central money, Cheema said the remarks were unfounded. He urged the Union minister to share the Centre’s master plan for the Rajpura‑Chandigarh rail link instead of spreading misinformation.
With these clear and direct funds, Punjab’s rural communities should see quick wins in infrastructure and sanitation upgrades.
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