Chandigarh, April 20 (Inditop.com) The Punjab government has sought assistance from the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for eight development projects worth Rs.1,000 crore in this financial year.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal Tuesday said that a project worth over Rs.180 crore for the lining of the canals and water-courses of the Bhakra mainline canal had been proposed to the NABARD.

Another project worth Rs.124.50 crore is to set up low-cost lavatories in the rural areas.

To improve road connectivity, the government has recommended a project with an investment of Rs.251.19 crore to construct new roads and bridges in the state.

For the development of Kandi areas, the sandy areas in Hoshiarpur and Ropar districts where water is scarce, an outlay of nearly Rs.375 crore has been proposed. The project involves construction of nine new dams and rehabilitation of the water distribution system of the five existing low dams, Badal said.