With the debt of financially-stressed Punjab rising by around ₹50,000 crore during the one-and-a-half-year regime of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the State, Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday sought the details of ‘utilisation of this huge amount’ from the State government.
In a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Mr. Purohit said the government should share the details as the debt burden is set to cross ₹3.5 lakh crore. The Governor’s action was in response to Mr. Mann’s letter on Thursday seeking the release of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) from the Centre.
Mr. Mann had asked the Governor to flag the issue of stalled RDF worth ₹5,637.4 crore with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said owing to the non-receipt of pending funds, the Mandi Board-Rural Development Board is not able to repay existing loans. Likewise, it is not able to continue with developmental activities for the welfare of farmers and rural population of the State.
