PUNJAB CABINET gives green signal to budget proposals for year 2013-14

Chandigarh, March 15, 2013: The Punjab Cabinet today approved the Budget proposals for the year 2013-14 to be presented by the Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa in the state Legislative Assembly on March 20.

A decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.

In another significant decision the Cabinet also gave nod to promulgate a bill in the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for amending the Punjab Lokpal Act 1996 to appoint Up-Lokpal in the state for assisting the Lokpal in disposing the work.

The Cabinet also gave nod for introducing a Bill in the current session of the state assembly to effectively check the menace of Ragging in Educational Institutions. Under the proposed act there would be a provision for constituting Anti-Ragging committees in the Educational Institutions and the decision of these committees could be challenged before a High level three member committee comprising Administrative Secretaries of Higher Education, Technical Education and Medical Education departments.

The Cabinet also gave green signal for enacting Punjab Personal Rapid Transit System Regulatory Act, 2013 (PRT) for providing localized pollution free, safe and congestion free public transport system to the people.

The Cabinet also approved to introduce a bill in the current budget session of the state assembly for enacting a new act “The Punjab Ancient, Historical Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Cultural Heritage Maintenance Board Act 2013”. This Act envisages a provision of setting up of a dedicated fund for the conservation and preservation of heritage buildings of the state as well as operation and maintenance along with the upkeep and funding of the heritage memorials to be constructed in the future. 1% cultural cess would be levied on the cost of roads constructed out of the state’s resources and buildings with a cost of more than Rs 50 crore.

The Cabinet also gave nod to increase rate of VAT on cigarettes and Cigars from 20.5% to 50% alongwith 10% surcharge.  

In order to provide autonomy to the Co-operative Societies in the state and for ensuring transparency and better management in them, the Cabinet also gave green signal for amending the Punjab Co-operative Societies Act 1961 in accordance with the 97^th amendment of the constitution. Punishment for offences under the co-operative act has been enhanced and under the 97th amendment the maximum numbers of committee members would be 21. It would be mandatory to hold AGM of every society within 6 months of end the financial year. There would be nominated professional Directors also in the societies.  Provisions regarding audit of accounts of the society has been streamlined and the report of the auditors will be laid before the legislature. Any member can have access all accounts/reports of the society. Selling or transfer of property by the societies have been made more transparent and presence of 2/3^RD members of the society is required for this purpose

Likewise, in a step aimed at checking the pilferage of Revenue collection in the state, the Cabinet also gave a go ahead to amend sections 2, 3-A, 27 and 51 of the Punjab VAT Act to introduce E-Trip/ E-Governance in Punjab. This amendment would help in generating additional revenue of about Rs. 200-300 crore annually.

The Cabinet also gave approval to levy the entry Tax on Motor vehicles/ Automobiles at a rate under section 3(5) of the Punjab Tax on entry of goods into local Areas Act 2000 i.e. difference of VAT rate inclusive of additional tax in the State viz-viz tax paid by the person while importing the automobiles/ motor vehicles.

The Cabinet also gave approval for the reduction of Commutation of Pension from 40% to 20% of the retiring employees.

To improve the working of Finance Audit of the various departments, the Cabinet also approved to appoint retired State Accounts Services (SAS) personnel against the vacant posts on a lump sum amount till the regular appointments were made by the PPSC or for a year, whichever was earlier.

The Cabinet also approved a policy where under the convicts under any kind of rape and under section 376, 376-A, 376-B, 376-C, 376-D, 377, relating to sexual offences of the IPC and under the NDPS Act would not be entitled for remissions and premature release.    

The Cabinet also reviewed the arrangements for the wheat procurement for Rabbi Season 2013-14 for which the policy had already been approved by the state government. About 1785 markets (mandis) for the smooth procurement for the wheat has been established and these centres would be allotted to the various procurement agencies the government would make arrangements for the procurement of 140 LT wheat. Proportionate share of various procurement agencies in the state such as PUNGRAIN, MARKFED, PUNSUP, Warehousing, Punjab Agro and FCI has been identified.