Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Tuesday launched the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for the recovery of outstanding dues 2021, to clear and settle their pending arrears.

He said, “Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and centre’s stoppage of Punjab’s share of GST and RDF, the State has not gone into overdraft,” adding that Punjab especially Ludhiana have it in them to further rise up the ladder of economic progress.

Chairing a state-level function organised regarding the OTS Scheme at Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium at Punjab Agricultural University, where he was accompanied by Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, PPCB President Sunil Jakhar, besides others, Badal said the partisan attitude of the Union Government towards Punjab is evident from the fact out of the three food parks to be developed by the UAE in India, none was given to Punjab although the UAE Government had clearly evinced keen interest in setting up the same in the State.

On OTS policy, he added that 47000 traders would be benefitted by the new OTS policy okayed by the State Government.

About Budha Nullah rejuvenation project, to ensure the smooth running of this Rs 650 crore project, the Punjab government has already deposited Rs. 320 crore in the MC bank account to ensure smooth running of project for next 10 years.

Inaugurating the Common Facility Centre by Ludhiana Oil Expellers and Parts Manufacturing Association, Manpreet said the Ludhiana Oil Expeller & Parts Manufacturers Cluster would also prove to be a game changer for the State, and further exhorted all to contribute as sons of the soil towards the welfare and betterment of Punjab.

President PPCC Sunil Jakhar said the basic approach of the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister is towards finding the solution to the problems with removing red-tapism in the clearance to the industrial projects which has proved a morale booster to the industry. Taking on the Central Government, he expressed surprise that the agricultural policies are being framed by those who know nothing about agriculture.

Nearly 2000 amendments have been made till date in the GST regime which was touted by the Centre as its most shining initiative, he added.

Emphasising on identifying the core strengths and weaknesses of the State’s industry, he said that despite the Central Government holding onto Rs. 8000 crore GST share and RDF share more than Rs. 1000 crore, the State Government is committed to further propelling the industrial sector of Punjab towards prosperity.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister and Ludhiana West MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that Ludhiana would be witness to the rapid urban development in keeping with the poll promises as mentioned in the manifesto of the Congress party.

He also thanked the Finance Minister for sanctioning Rs. 600 crore projects aimed at the acceleration of Ludhiana on road to prosperity. Vowing to transform the ‘Budha Nullah’ into ‘Budha Darya’, he also said that the other gift of the Captain Amarinder Singh Government is the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme which would give much needed boost to the industrial units of the city who have braved the trying times of Covid-19.