Punjab Cabinet approves ‘Rangla Punjab Fund’, anti-drone system along Pakistan border

Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet on Friday approved the creation of the ‘Rangla Punjab Fund’ aimed at enabling Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to contribute towards public welfare projects in their native villages and towns. The fund was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh.

An appeal was made to NRIs to donate generously, with the Chief Minister assuring that the funds would be used strictly for the intended purposes specified by the contributors.

“Any NRI who wishes to fund public welfare work in their village or city can contribute to the Rangla Punjab Fund,” Mann said.

The Cabinet also approved a budget for the installation of an anti-drone system along Punjab’s 532-km international border with Pakistan, stretching from Abohar to Pathankot.

The Chief Minister said the entire stretch will be secured with the new system to counter cross-border threats.

In another significant move, the Cabinet cleared the deployment of 5G jammers in 13 jails across the state to curb illegal mobile phone usage among inmates.

To support crop diversification, the Cabinet approved the procurement of maize at the government-set minimum support price (MSP). Private traders will also be required to pay at least the MSP for maize purchases.

Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the acquisition of land through land pooling in various cities and approved the allocation of residential land for industrial projects.

To tackle black marketing and hoarding in border districts, the government has decided to deploy two cabinet ministers in each of these areas. Mann said there is no shortage of oil in Punjab and the measure is intended to ensure proper monitoring.