CM FLAGS ISSUE OF IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE PENDING SHARE OF TAXES AND RDF

SAS Nagar (Mohali), (Global News) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday flagged the case of immediate release of the pending share of taxes and Rural Development Fund (RDF) before the Union Environment Minister for making Punjab a frontrunner state in the country. The Chief Minister, while addressing a workshop for the effective paddy straw management here today, underscored the need for financial sustainability of the states to contribute to the socio-economic growth of the country. He said that the states must be empowered to play a bigger and effective role in the development of the country. Bhagwant Mann said that for this the Union government must release the pending share of taxes and Rural Development Fund (RDF).

The Chief Minister sought the kind intervention of the Union Environment Minister Bhupinder Yadav to raise the issue at the appropriate forum. Describing paddy straw as an asset, he underlined the need for developing a sustainable mechanism for the management of the paddy straw burning menace. Bhagwant Mann said that it is a long pending issue of the entire northern region but the farmers lack any viable mechanism to manage Crops residue.

The Chief Minister said that the farmers don’t want to burn the stubble as at the first, the families of farmers have to face the brunt of this menace. He said that the Union government and state governments have to join hands by preparing a joint action plan to combat this menace by ensuring procurement of stubble. Citing an example of Verbio Company, Bhagwant Mann said that this company took the initiative to manage the stubble in 47 thousand acres adding that such companies should be further encouraged.