New lists of BPL families of all the states will be ready by September this year. The survey has already begun. Rural Development Jai Ram Ramesh said, he expects the survey will be more realistic this time.

Addressing members of Punjab Legislative Assembly at Chandigarh today he said that 1950 kilometre rural roads of the state will be upgraded under Pradhan Mantry Gramin Sadak Yojna in 16 districts of the state. Besides, road construction work in six border districts of Punjab will be taken up to provide better connectivity. He asked the Punjab Government to boost sanitation in the villages as only 200 villages had earned the status of Nirmal Gram Panchyat out of 12500.

He said, the centre will help Punjab in improving the quality of drinking water in those areas where arsenic and uranium contents are found in the underground water.

During his two days visit to Punjab, he visited the border areas of Fazilika,Ferozepur and Amritsar districts. He announced special infra grant of 800 crore rupees for rural roads of the state.