Bhagwant Mann Govt is pushing for canal irrigation & crop diversification to save water: Harpal Singh Cheema

SASNAGAR (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday unveiled NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)’s State Focus Paper for 2026-27 at the State Credit Seminar organised by the NABARD in Mohali, outlining an ambitious credit roadmap for Punjab’s growth across agriculture, MSMEs, infrastructure, renewable energy, and social sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “NABARD has played a significant role in strengthening Punjab’s economy and accelerating development across key sectors. Through various lending and credit schemes, it has supported growth in agriculture, education, and social sectors in the state.”

The Finance Minister informed that the State Focus Paper projects a total priority sector credit potential of ₹3,08,66,614 lakh for Punjab. “The projections cover farm credit, agriculture infrastructure, allied and ancillary activities, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, export credit, education, housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy, and other sectors. This comprehensive roadmap will help align institutional credit with the state’s developmental priorities,” he stated.

Highlighting Punjab’s historic contribution to national food security, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Punjab has played a pivotal role in making the country self-reliant in food production. However, this contribution has come at a cost, particularly in the form of depletion of groundwater resources. Today, 117 out of 151 blocks in Punjab have been declared dark zones due to over-extraction of groundwater.”

Referring to the initiatives of the Bhagwant Mann Government, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Our government is actively promoting canal irrigation and constructing small water channels, known as khalas, to farmers’ fields to restore groundwater levels. Crop diversification is essential for conserving water resources, and we urge NABARD to extend greater support towards such initiatives.”

Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to ensuring a trader- and investor-friendly environment, Harpal Singh Cheema asserted, “A meeting of top police officials, including district heads, was recently held with the Punjab State Traders’ Commission to send a strong message to anti-social elements and to ensure a secure and stable business climate in the state.”

Among those present on the dais were B. Ramesh Babu, Chief General Manager, NABARD; Ritu Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary Cooperation; Manohar Lal, General Manager, NABARD; Pankaj Setia, General Manager, RBI Chandigarh; G.K. Negi, Chairman, Punjab Gramin Bank; and Guriqbal Singh, General Manager and OIC, NABARD Haryana. Members of SLBC, Farmer Producer Organisations, and Self-Help Groups were also present.

During the seminar, progressive Farmer Producer Organisations, Self-Help Groups, and dragon fruit producers were felicitated for their contributions.