City residents hope for new projects, employment avenues

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 17

City residents have high hopes from the state budget, which will be presented by Punjab Finance Minister and local MLA Manpreet Singh Badal in the Vidhan Sabha on February 18.

As this time the budget is being presented ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and Badal had recently indicated that the state’s finances are better now, the residents are hoping that he would announce some big benefits and projects for Bathinda in the budget.

Raman Watts, president of Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the expectation was that, as promised, the Finance Minister would announce a drop in power tariff rates for the industry to Rs 5 per unit.

He said apart from this, Badal should announce the setting up of new industrial units in Bathinda region and special benefits should be given to those who want to re-start their closed industries in the state.

Prof (retd) RK Mahajan said “Enough money should be given to the agricultural research institutes, particularly PAU, so that they develop productivity enhancing varieties of crops”.

Further, he said budgetary provisions must be made for agro-processing industry to revive it.

Another city resident, Prof NK Gosian, said all sections of the society expected some sort of respite in this budget. The government employees were hoping for the announcement of release of pending DA, along with other pending dues. They also hoped that the government shall present the 7th Pay Commission report and implement it during the next financial year. Moreover, the Finance Minister should lay emphasis on creation of new jobs for the youth, as per the promises made by the Chief Minister of providing ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar’. Primary health services should be provided at people’s doorsteps, VAT on petrol and diesel was maximum in Punjab and should be reduced. The rates of electricity were also the highest in Punjab and should be reduced.

Gian Chand Bansal, another city resident, said “We anticipate the Punjab budget to be presented keeping in mind the aspirations of the common people from all walks of life. The unemployed youth must be particularly compensated with a good unemployment allowance”.