Chandigarh, 30 November 2024 – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has urged the World Bank to provide financial assistance to tackle the state’s pressing challenges.
In a meeting with Auguste Tano Kouamé, Country Director of the World Bank in India, Mann outlined Punjab’s case for support to enhance financial stability, promote development, and improve public services.
Mann pointed up the need for aid to bolster the state’s institutional framework and implement reforms focusing on fiscal prudence, governance, and efficient service delivery.
He expressed hope that World Bank assistance would strengthen Punjab’s development priorities, including infrastructure growth, human resource advancement, and social welfare programs.
Environmental conservation was also stressed as a key agenda.
The Chief Minister shared efforts to conserve groundwater by reviving water sources and expanding canal water supply to agricultural lands. Mann reported that these initiatives have led to a one-meter rise in groundwater levels over the past two years.
Punjab is also pursuing solar energy solutions for agricultural motors and encouraging a shift from paddy cultivation to alternative crops to improve sustainability and farmer incomes.
Mann reiterated the state’s commitment to balancing agricultural productivity with environmental protection.
