CHANDIGARH, MAY 14: Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance and planning Minister, Punjab today said that it was due to the untiring efforts of the Chief Minister, Punjab Mr. Parkash Singh Badal that Planning Commission of India today approved annual plan of Rs.14,000 crore for Punjab for the 2012-13.
In a communiqué to the media, Finance Minister said that Punjab was hugely indebted bearing the long stretch of militancy. He said that Punjab has to pay @ 11,000 crore per year as installment of the principal amount of the debt. Mr. Dhindsa said that daring all the troublesome situations, Punjab has managed to start mega projects worth thousands of crores in the previous regime of SAD-BJP government.
Finance Minister said that in order to keep the development projects going and to initiate new development projects, Punjab need huge amount. He said that seeking financial aid from Centre is out justifiable right and should not be considered as weakness. He said that the Centre got big chunk, nearly 80 per cent, of the total tax collected in the state, while Punjab got a meager share of 20 per cent.
