New Delhi: Partap Singh Bajwa, MP from Punjab, has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help upgrade health facilities in the state by setting up of virology centre, and release more funds to strengthen its economy to fight coronavirus effectively.
"Punjab is a border state and post lockdown the loss of revenue would negatively impact the financial security of the state," he said in a letter to the Prime Minister. He requested Modi to release more money for the state to deal with the situation.
The union government has given arrears, including financial compensation for loss of revenue due to adoption of GST (Rs 1237 crore) which is due to the state as per the GST act. "This and any other amount released under the Disaster Management Act and other schemes like MGNREGA are the ones that were already promised to state under the budget so more funds should be released immediately to help the state fight coronavirus," he wrote in the letter.
The MP also requested Modi to waive off GST for all medical equipment and medicines. In his previous letter to the Prime Minister, Bajwa sought central help to ensure the safe return of Punjab pilgrims stranded at Nanded Sahib of Maharashtra after lockdown.
Earlier, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had also sought Rs 729 crore from the Centre to upgrade health infrastructure in the state.
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