Cutting across the party lines, Punjab legislators on Wednesday expressed their concerns and suggested ways out for the smoldering issue of stubble burning across the state forcing the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to assure the House that it would be resolved before the next crop.
Capt Amarinder informed the House that an agreement was signed with a South Indian group which would set up 400 units in the state and take 19 million tonnes of stubble to convert it into bio-energy. This year, the state generated total 20 MT of stubble.
“Recently, a MoU was signed with a Chennai-based company NEEWAY to address the problem and work on alternate ways of disposing off crop residue. The company will set up 400 processing plants for converting paddy straw into bio energy in the state,” he said adding that there will be no issue of pollution from next year. The issue was raised by Congress MlA Gurkirat Singh Kotli during question hour seeking answer from the government what incentives or policy it has chalked out for the farmers to manage their stubble. Replying, the state Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh informed the House that already seven projects have been set up in the state to manage stubble, besides incentives including exemption of change of land use, external development charges, fees, are being given for setting up of Renewable Energy Power Projects, including paddy or wheat straw based industry, under the New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NRSE) Policy-2012.
The Minister said that the government was providing 100 percent exemption from payment of stamp duty for registration or lease deed charges for NRSE projects and leasing of Panchayat land for setting-up NRSE projects, besides 100 percent Electricity Duty exemption for NRSE Power Generation and Consumption by generators themselves as a captive unit. The Minister further said that 100 percent Electricity Duty exemption for power consumed from State licensee during construction and testing of the project was also being offered. Apart from this, Single Window Clearance and Power Purchase Agreement with State Utility (PSPCl) for 25 years was also being ensured by the state, he added. Rana Gurjit said only 26 percent pollution in delhi was because of stubble burning.
Kotli suggested that the paddy straw could be used to give boost to the micro and small scale industry as it can be used for making cardboard etc and can also generate jobs.
DEPARTMENTAl INQUIRY INTO THREE STPs OF BHOlATH SEGMENT
Punjab local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu announced to conduct a departmental inquiry into the sub-standard quality and incomplete sewage treatment plants (STPs) in three nagar panchayats of Bholath constituency — represented by the leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira.
Assuring a departmental inquiry into the STPs at Begowal, Bholath and Dhilwan nagar panchayats, Sidhu said that he would come up with the report within a month.
Responding to Khaira’s allegations of sub-standard work on majority of STPs in the state, Sidhu said that he would personally supervise the departmental inquiry.
Khaira has been demanding the vigilance probe in these STPs claiming that these were the “glaring startling way of incorrect methodology adopted” by the previous government. He pointed that about Rs 10 crore were wasted for STP at Dhilwan Nagar panchayat the work for which was started way back in 2008, and it was yet to be completed.
Relying to Khaira’s demand, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said that the decision will be taken for vigilance probe after the departmental inquiry. “We will decide after that if it is required,” he added.
MlAs QUESTION ROAD TO SUKHVIllAS
AAP MlA Kanwar Sandhu and Congress MlA Sukhjinder Randhawa raised the question on construction of road till the Sukhvilas resort at Palanpur in New Chandigarh, supposedly owned by SAD president Sukhbir Badal.
Randhawa questioned whether the entire money was spent by the contractor or was also spent from the government funds for the construction of the road. Sandhu pointed that the Kurali toll plaza was “against rules” as the road was neither a state nor a national highway, and as per rule, no toll cane be installed at scheduled or link roads.
Sandhu maintained that the burden was on the people of the nearby villages who daily commute from that road. He suggested if some annual tax can be levied on the palatial Sukhvillas resort to lessen burden on the common man.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra asked the members to send their proposals in writing, and they would consider the same.
Rs 200 CR FROM WB FOR FIRE SERVICES UPGRADATION SOON: SIDHU
local Government Minister Sidhu informed the House that the Chief Minister had already approved Rs 43 crores for the upgradation of the fire services in the state and the government is in the process of getting Rs 200 crores from the World Bank.
Sidhu, responding to a query by SAD MlA NK Sharma, said that fire services will be completely modernized and upgraded within next three years. He said that out of Rs 43 crores, Rs seven crores had been earmarked for buying fire clothing and safety equipment for the firemen, besides all the required 550 fire tenders will be made available, along with mandated staff allocation. With this, the mandated limit of one fire tender for every 50,000 people would be achieved, he added.
Reaffirming the state government's commitment to upgrade fire services to world-class standards, Sidhu said that government would be holding a meeting with the Central Government on December 15 for the World Bank funding.
Pointing out that lack of trained staff was a major challenge in providing timely services, Sidhu said that the department had already initiated the process of fresh hiring and 46 fire employees would be inducted soon.
WIll SOON RAISE SHAGUN AMOUNT TO RS 51000: DHARAMSOT
Punjab Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot assured the House that the government would soon enhance the amount under the Ashirwad (earlier known as Shagun) scheme to Rs 51,000, as promised by Capt Amarinder.
Dharamsot, replying to a question by AAP MlA Baldev Singh, said that the amount has already been raised from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000 by the government despite poor financial situation. He added that the entire amount of Shagun, pending since September, will be released before the year ends.
WIll APPROACH CENTRE TO AMEND CONDITIONS FOR DEFINING POVERTY: BAJWA
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that the government would write to the Centre seeking an amendment in the conditions for defining poverty.
His statement came after the Congress MlA Balbir Singh Sidhu demanded a separate survey for below poverty line (BPl) families in the state. Bajwa maintained that there was a huge difference in the living conditions in the states like UP and Punjab, and the limit and conditions for BPl need to be different.
