Cabinet gives nod for promulgating Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014

Highlights:

·          MOVE AIMED AT PROVIDING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR REGULARIZING PLOTS/ BUILDINGS IN UNAUTHORIZED COLONIES

·          OKAYS AMENDMENT IN "LAND OWNERS BECOME PARTNERS POLICY"

·          TAX ON CERTAIN LOTTERIES HIKED

·          PROPOSALS FOR SMOOTH PROCUREMENT OF PADDY DURING KHARIF MARKETING SEASON 2014-15 CLEARED

·          APPOINTMENT OF NINE WOMEN PLAYERS OF INDIAN KABADDI TEAM IN MARKFED APPROVED

·          PUNJAB CIVIL SERVICES (PREMATURE RETIREMENT) RULES, 1975 AMENDED

·          23 NEW POSTS OF DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT GRADE-2 IN JAIL DEPARTMENT CREATED AND 16 POSTS REVIVED

·          POLICY OF NET METERING AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR GRID CONNECTIVITY FOR ROOF TOP GRID INTERACTIVE SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS CLEARED

·          PUNJAB DEVELOPMENT FUND ORDINANCE, 2014 OKAYED

·          48 POSTS OF REQUISITE STAFF TO RUN THE COMMUNITY HOMES FOR THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED SANCTIONED

·          CS TO HEAD COMMITTEES FOR RECOMMENDING NORMS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF DOCTOR AND TEACHERS IN KANDI/ BORDER AREAS AND REFORMS IN JAIL MANUAL

Chandigarh, August 26, 2014:With a view to give another chance to the plot holders in unauthorized colonies to get their plots/ buildings regularized and to provide basic infra structure like water supply, sewerage, electricity connections, streets and others, the Punjab Cabinet today approved the re-enactment of the Punjab Laws (Special provisions) Act for another one year by promulgating Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of Council of Ministers chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the CMO here this morning.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that this step would provide an opportunity to the public for regularizing their plots/ buildings to avail the facility of sale/ purchase of plots and get the basic civic amenities besides facilitating the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Local Government to clear the backlog of pending applications.

In another significant decision, keeping in view the larger public interest the Cabinet also decided to amend "Land Owners Become Partners Policy" thereby facilitating the land owners in the payment of Change of Land Use (CLU), External Development Charges (EDC) and other miscellaneous charges. Owing to the financial constraints the land developers had earlier expressed their inability to pay these fees but now the amended policy envisaged either to bear these charges on loan basis by the development authorities or organize loans from banks which would be ultimately adjusted against the future receipts of the land developers.

In a move aimed at generating additional revenue for the state, the Cabinet also gave nod for enhancing the increase in tax levied on certain lotteries across the state. As per the decision Rs 2 lakh would be charged as tax on four digit lottery instead of existing Rs 85,000, Rs 80,000 on Card game instead of currently Rs 55,000 and Rs 2 lakh instead of existing Rs 1 lakh on Lotto game.

The Cabinet also gave nod for notionally creating 246 posts Physical Training Instructors (PTI) Teachers with effect from May 7, 2011.

In another important decision the Cabinet also gave approval for setting up of Rehabilitation Centers across the state for rehabilitating the drug addicts. Likewise, for imparting quality counseling facilities to the drug addicts in these centers, the Cabinet gave nod for filling the posts of 16 Psychiatric through walk-in-interview instead of through the Punjab Public Service Commission.

The Cabinet also approved the proposals put forth by the Food and Civil Supplies department for the smooth and prompt procurement of estimated 140 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of paddy during the Kharif Marketing season 2014-15 relating to gunny bags/baardana, labour and transportation arrangements, cash credit limit, lifting of stock during procurement and custom milling policy 2014-15 besides grievances redressal mechanism for farmers.

In a bid to boost the morale of sportspersons in the state, the Cabinet also decided to offer employment to nine women players of Indian Kabaddi team in the Markfed which brought laurels to Punjab during the second Kabaddi World Cup. This step would ensure to secure future of the players on one hand and offer more opportunities to the players to enhance their skills in the game for the further promotion of Kabaddi in the state on the other. Subsequent to their appointment in the Markfed, these players would be participating in different tournaments as Markfed Kabaddi team, which would provide more publicity to the Markfed as well as its premium products.

In order to bring far more improvement and efficiency in the functioning of the Government offices, the Cabinet decided to amend section 3.1 (a) of Punjab Civil Services (Premature Retirement) Rules, 1975 to be known as Punjab Civil Services (Premature Retirement) First Amendment Rules, 2014. According to amended rule, the appropriate authority shall, if it is of the opinion that it is the public interest to do so have the absolute right, by giving an employee prior notice to retire that employee after he completes fifteen years or twenty years or twenty five years or thirty years and thirty five years of qualifying service.

In a major reprieve to the employees of the Hospitality department, the Cabinet gave approval to convert 14 temporary posts in Mini Secretariat, Ludhiana into permanent posts.

To overcome the shortage of the staffs in the jails and ensure speedy implementation of reforms in Jail Administration, the Cabinet approved the creation of 23 new posts and revival of 16 posts of Deputy Superintendent Grade-2 in Jails department.

The Cabinet also okayed the filling up of one post of Assistant Architect and four posts of Architectural Junior Draftsmen by direct recruitment so that the work was conducted smoothly in the Architectural wing of Public Works Department (B&R).

In a bid to promote the setting up of Roof Top Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems in the state, the Cabinet also approved a policy of Net Metering and Technical standards for Grid Connectivity for Roof Top Grid Interactive Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants. This would facilitate the consumer by adjusting the surplus power consumed from the grid thereby resulting in their energy bill reduction.

The Cabinet also gave green signal to the Punjab Development Fund Ordinance, 2014 for the purpose of creating a fund for community assets of durable nature, for the welfare scheme of Liquor dealers for drug de-addiction and culture purposes or any other purpose decided by the board constituted for the management of fund under the Chairmanship of Excise and Taxation Minister. As per this decision 25% amount of application fee for liquor vends would go to this dedicated fund as a measure of Social Responsibility of Excise and Taxation Department.

In a bid to upgrade the level of higher education besides opening new vistas of employment for the youth of state, the Cabinet also gave approval for setting up of Sant Baba Bhag Singh Self Financed Private University at village Khiala, PO Padhiana district Jalandhar under the Punjab Private Universities Policy 2010.

The Cabinet also sanctioned 48 posts for running the newly set up Community Homes for the mentally challenged children/persons at Rajpura, Ludhiana and Amritsar. It may be recalled these Homes admit such boys and girls above six years and each such Home has a capacity of 50 persons.

The Cabinet also approved to set up Turf Club cum Tourist destination at village Mattewara in district Ludhiana over an area of 171 acre 2 Kanal and 13 marla through Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) by PPP mode. 

The Cabinet also gave nod for constituting a committee headed by the Chief Secretary which would formulate a policy for recruitment and deployment of doctors and teachers in border and kandi areas of the state. Likewise, the Cabinet also gave a go ahead to constitute a committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to review the Jail manual in order to bring out reforms in the Jails.