New Delhi, June 19 (KNN) With a view to clear settlement of Rs 31,000 crore ‘food account’ against procurement of wheat and paddy, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in this matter as it has been pending since long.

Capt Singh said the erstwhile state government erroneously took upon itself the financial burden, which should have been adjusted between it and the Centre.

In a 30-minute meeting with PM Modi, Punjab CM said the sum was on account of non-adjustment of accounts for procurements done by state agencies for the Food Corporation of India from 2003-04 onwards.

He said of the Rs 31,000 crore, Rs 12,000 crore was principal and remaining Rs 19,000 crore was interest.

The Chief Minister said that the state was burdened with an annual interest payment liability of Rs 324 crore and the total payoff on account of accretion of interest could touch a whopping Rs 65,000 crore, which would be untenable, said the Chief Minister.

The CM has raised the issue with the Centre several times and now the matter is to be taken up by the Union Finance Ministry.

Besides, Punjab Chief Minister demanded institution of national debt waiver scheme, making Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana totally centrally funded and procurement of alternate crops such as maize, pulses and oil seeds by central agencies.

The other demands include package for development of boarder areas and central assistance for other state specific programs.

Capt Amarinder later met Union Minister for Water Resources and Road Transport Nitin Gadkari and sought early clearance of the Shahpur-Kandi dam project.