To ensure holistic development of villages under phase-II of Punjab Government’s ambitious Smart Village Campaign (SVC), an allocation of whopping Rs 3,445.14 crore has been made for as many as 13,265 panchayats in all the 22 districts across the state.

Out of this, Rs 1,603.83 crore have been released under the Campaign while Rs 1,539.91 crore have been allocated under the 14th Finance Commission with allocation of Rs 301.4 crore made under the 15th Finance Commission, said a government spokesperson on Tuesday, giving details.

The spokesperson said that 48,910 development works are being taken up during the second phase of the SVC at a total cost of Rs 2,775 crore for up-gradation of the existing infrastructure to ensure overall development in the rural areas with a thrust on ‘inclusive’ growth.

Giving the district-wise allocation of funds, the spokesperson said that Hoshiarpur district, having highest number of panchayats (1405), Rs 246.01 crore have been provided, followed by Rs 435.88 crore to Gurdaspur district which has 1,279 panchayats.

Likewise, in Patiala with 1038 panchayats, funds to the tune of Rs 150.39 crore have been made available, in Ludhiana with 941 panchayats Rs 231.58 crore have been allocated. In Jalandhar, having next highest number of panchayats at 898, funds to the tune of Rs 172.94 have been released; while in Amritsar, Rs 191.24 crore have been placed at the disposal of 860 panchayats, among others.

Notably, the second phase of Smart Village Campaign was launched by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on October 17, 2020, after successful implementation of its first phase, which was launched in 2019 for the execution of 19,132 works at a cost of Rs 835 crore.

The first phase of Campaign included works like renovation of ponds, street lights, parks, gymnasiums, community halls, drinking water supply, model anganwadi centres, smart schools and solid waste management thus making villages in Punjab self sustaining by providing enabling environment.