Amid 'ailing' financial health, Punjab Govt spent Rs 21 lakh on ads in newspapers to seek suggestions for budget 2022

Chandigarh, June 28: The AAP-led Punjab Government presented its maiden 'paperless Budget' on Monday with an aim of giving some relief to the ailing health of the state exchequer. CM Bhagwant Mann had claimed it to a step towards e-governance and said through a paperless budget this time, around Rs 21 lakh of the state exchequer will be saved, besides preventing the cutting of 814-834 trees. However, an RTI filed by Mansa resident Manik Goyal paints a different picture. While the AAP-led Punjab Government had claimed that a paperless budget would save lakhs of rupees, according to the RTI, more than Rs 42 lakh were spent only for taking suggestions of people through newspaper advertisement and too when the state's financial health is "deteriorating". [caption id="attachment_659385" align="aligncenter"] Punjab FM Harpal Cheema[/caption] Also Read | Covid rears its head in Punjab again; Mohali and Ludhiana hotspots Interestingly, the newspapers in which advertisements were given were also from Himachal Pradesh, which raises questions whether suggestions were also sought from the people of the hill state for the budget of Punjab? [caption id="attachment_659383" align="aligncenter"] Punjab FM Harpal Cheema with CM Bhagwant Mann[/caption] On Monday, Congress Leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also alleged that while the Punjab Government talked of paperless budget thus year, the same was also available in printed form. He also showed a copy of the same. Notably, Presenting the AAP government's maiden budget, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced providing 300 units of free electricity from July 1, setting up of 117 Mohalla Clinics and upgrading 100 schools as 'schools of eminence' in the state among other proposals. Also Read | Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi brought to Amritsar's Special Operation Cell [caption id="attachment_659384" align="aligncenter"] Advertisements given in newspapers for seeking suggestions for Punjab Budget 2022.[/caption] Read in Punjabi