Punjab Cabinet takes slew of Punjab centric decisions

Chandigarh, May 9, 2025: The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday took slew of important decisions pertaining to the development, security and well being of the people of state. 

Decisions to this effect was taken in meeting of Cabinet held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence today.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that the Cabinet gave approval for installing V-Kavach jammer procurement in 13 high security jails of the state. These 5G enabled hi-end jammers will be installed in the jails for better security purpose. The jammers have been already successfully tested and all the jails of the state will be covered by it gradually. 

Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod for transferring 135 acre land of Housing department land at Faridkot to industries department. The land originally belonged to cooperative sugar mill and was transferred to Housing department under the OUVGL scheme. Examining the huge potential of land for industrial use, the land will be transferred to industry department for development into industrial zone. 

In order to make NRIs an equal partner in development of the state, the Cabinet also approved the Creation of Rangla Punjab Fund  in which NRI or anyone can generously contribute for giving fillip to infrastructure growth. This fund will be managed by the Finance department and will be used for accelerating growth in education, health, industry and other sectors. NRIs or other citizens who want to contribute for the development of the state can contribute in this fund. 

In another major decision aimed at preserving the rich culture of the state, the Cabinet also gave consent for bringing an ordinance to start Bullock cart races in the state. The ordinance is aimed at ensuring that the rich culture of state is preserved by organising these games which was an integral part of Punjabi culture. Special thrust will be laid on ensuring that no torture of bullock carts takes place during the race for which special clause will be put in the ordinance.   

In order to give major thrust to crop diversification in the state for saving the ground water, the Cabinet also gave nod to launch pilot project of Kharif maize in three regions of the state. The pilot  project will be launched in three regions Gurdaspur-Pathankot, Bathinda, Jalandhar-Kapurthala over an area of 12,000 hectare. The state government will evolve a foolproof mechanism to ensure the marketing of this crop to benefit the farmers of the state. 

In order to explore new vistas in the sector of Mining, the Cabinet also gave green signal for Setting up an ultra modren centre of excellence for Mining at IIT Ropar. The centre of excellence will be mandated with assessing the area covered under mining and extent of exploitation being done in sector. The centre will be helpful in evolving ways and means to check illegal mining in the state through use of Artificial intelligence. 

The Cabinet also gave approval to cover 2053 employees of the state whose joining process has started before January 1, 2004 under the Old Pension Scheme.

The Cabinet also gave its consent to regularise the services of around 900 officials of the forest department.