Chandigarh, June 10 -- Punjab finance department, which is facing an acute financial crunch, has asked at least a dozen state government departments to deposit funds available with them into the state treasury.

The orders were issued last week after a meeting with the administrative heads of these departments. The order asks the departments to mop up the funds, which are kept ideal and unused, with immediate effect and deposit it with the treasury to increase the state's kitty.

"In reference to the discussions held during the meeting on June 5, it is requested the funds be deposited in state treasury under the government public accounts, major head of the Punjab state development fund," reads the administrative orders issued by principa...