Chandigarh, July 6 (IANS): Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday asked the finance department to release Rs.43 crore to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board for the timely completion of ongoing construction of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) along with the Ghaggar river.

Reviewing the progress of the steps taken by the sewerage board and the Punjab Pollution Control Board for the construction of STPs, the chief minister sanctioned the additional fund, an official statement said.

Local Government Secretary Ashok Gupta apprised the chief minister that out of 21 towns on the Ghaggar, STPs in Zirakpur, Mohali, Banur, Patiala, Samana, Sardulgarh and Bhikhi towns have been commissioned.

STPs in four towns of Patran, Mandi Gobindgarh, Rajpura and Moonak are likely to be completed by December 31, he said.

Apart from this, funds for the six STPs in five towns of Sunam, Longowal, Khanauri, Derabassi (two) and Lehragagga have already been tied up and would be completed by March 31 next year, the statement said.