The initial steps towards formulating the state’s post-Covid revival strategy, with the Montek Singh Ahluwalia led group of experts setting up five sub-groups, even as former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh accepted Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s request to provide guidance to the government to restore the state’s economy.
The group of experts, headed by Montek Singh, had its introductory meeting, through videoconferencing with the Chief Minister, who disclosed that he had written to Dr Manmohan Singh to guide the government along with the group of experts, and he had kindly accepted. “We have been working hard to steer Punjab to the path of economic growth and post Covid-19, we will again focus on the same,” he tweeted.
Capt Amarinder told the group that the state’s financial situation was grim, with monthly revenue losses to the tune of Rs 3,360 crore.
The state’s cash inflows had completely dried up, said the Chief Minister, adding that power consumption had declined by 30 per cent with a daily loss of Rs 30 crore in collection of electricity tariff to the PSPCL.
