Patiala, May 07: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has said the "prevailing financial crunch" of the state would not be allowed to hamper the pace of development. Addressing a gathering here after laying the foundation stone of national capital region water supply and sewerage project, Singh said fiscal reforms coupled with austerity measures taken by the government had radically improved the financial situation. "The state revenue has increased by Rs 750 crore by the end of March 31, 2002," he said, adding that these reforms were a roadmap to prosperity of Punjab and would continue till the "achievement of the ultimate goal of self-sustaining financial position in the state". Referring to the national capital region water supply and sewerage project at Patiala, Singh said the scheme was conceived way back in 1989 and "it is really pathetic that the previous governments did not bother to pursue the matter with Union government." He said Patiala had been declared as one of the five "counter magnet areas" by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), with an objective to reduce pressure of population in Delhi.

Bureau Report