To examine all aspects of the proposed Punjab Land Leasing and Tenancy Bill, 2019, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to set up a sub-committee.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced Finance Minister Manpreet Badal as the committee head, with Social Security Minister Aruna Chaudhary and Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar as its members after the Cabinet authorised the Chief Minister to set up the panel and decide on its terms and tenure among other things.
The Bill aims to repeal the six existing tenancy laws to bring in major reforms in matters of leasing of agricultural land in the state. It also seeks to balance the rights and responsibilities of landowners and tenants, besides providing a process of fast adjudication for resolution of disputes.
The introduction of this transparent land leasing law is aimed at not only allowing the landowner to enter into a written contract with the potential tenant without the fear of losing his land to him but also at incentivizing the tenant to make long term investments in improvement of land and get access to credit and subsidies.
The existing laws set to be repealed with the new proposed legislation are: The Punjab Tenancy Act 1887; the Punjab Occupancy Tenants (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Act, 1952; the Pepsu Occupancy Tenants (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Act, 1953; the Punjab Colonisation of Government Lands Act 1912; the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 and the Pepsu Tenancy and Agriculture Lands Act, 1955.
The Bill has been necessitated by the changing agrarian relations in recent years, which has transformed the concept of traditional tenancy to a primarily commercial one. A booming land leasing market has emerged in Punjab, which covers a quarter of the total cultivated area.
The lease of agriculture land, at present, is mostly oral, which indicates a lack of trust and confidence in the prevailing tenancy laws. The lessors, while leasing out their lands, generally do not show the lessees to be in occupation of the leased land due to the apprehension of losing their ownership rights or getting embroiled in avoidable protracted eviction proceedings as the laws governing tenancy in the State tend to favour the tenant.
On the other hand, the presence of informal tenancy puts the lessees or tenants at the risk of exploitation by the lessors because of no legal security.
In addition to these risks, the lessees or tenants do not get the benefits of various government initiatives, including credit, insurance, subsidies and calamity relief in case of damage to their crops.
The Bill envisages removing barriers against investment apart from helping adopt new technology on the leased land and introduce cultivation of high-value crop, so as to usher in higher productivity and prosperity for sustainable agriculture.
This legislation would further encourage new forms of organisation in agriculture, such as corporate cultivation, cooperatives or group production, self-help groups, partnerships including limited liability partnerships, farmers' producer organizations and others to make agriculture a viable and sustainable occupation for small and marginal farmers as well.
DRAFT FARMERS’ POLICY DISCUSSED, SUB-COMMITTEE TO STUDY IT
After informally discussing the farmers’ policy, the Cabinet sub-committee has been assigned with the task of studying it in detail.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, after the Council of Ministers informally discussed the draft Punjab farmers’ Policy in its meeting, decided to hand over the same to a cabinet sub-committee for a detailed study.
Presenting the draft, Farmers’ Commission chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar said that the policy was open to discussion and amendments.
The Chief Minister said that he had seen the draft and in view of the political implications of some of its provisions, a cabinet sub-committee should be formed to examine the policy and take further decision, following which the Cabinet authorized Capt Amarinder to form the sub-committee.
The policy focuses on issues of water management, livestock development, crop diversification, value addition, common lands, crop compensation fund, governance, merger of departments and ministries etc to improve livelihoods of those dependent on agriculture on a sustainable basis while preserving the ecological balance for future generations.
NEW RULES TO BOOST AGRO-FORESTRY ACTIVITIES IN PUNJAB
To boost agro forestry activities in Punjab, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved ‘The Punjab Forest Produce Transit Rules, 2018’, and the ‘The Punjab Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2019’.
The new rules have been formulated in the light of various advisories or guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time, as per the changed scenario of the Timber Transit Regine for various timber species.
Spokesperson said that Kullu, Kangra, Gurdaspur Forest Produce (and Routes) Rules, 1965< were notified in 1965, which were applicable to Kullu and Kangra Districts and Pathankot Tehsil of Gurdaspur district of undivided Punjab. Thus, it became necessary to promulgate new rules, keeping in view the present territory of state of Punjab.
The main features of the new rules include exemption of Bamboos grown on private lands from the purview of Timber Transit Regine. Agro forestry species such as Populus spp, Eucalyptus spp. Drek, Mulberry, Subabul, Silver Oak, Malabar Neem, Khejri, Indian Willow, Gamari have also been exempted from the purview of Timber Transit regine, as this provision was not there in previous rules.
In another decision, the Cabinet has cleared ‘The Punjab Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2019’ to give impetus to agro-forestry and promote diversification of agriculture, besides ensuring socio-economic benefits to the farmers.
Under the new rules, no new licensed wood based unit would be granted license within 1 kilometre aerial distance from notified government block forests, protected areas, protected forests and un-classed forests in the state, except if it located within a notified industrial estate/park or municipal areas.
STATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT TO BE SET UP UNDER CENTRE’S POSHAN ABHIYAN
To improve nutritional status of children under 6, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the state, the Cabinet has approved setting up of a State Project Management Unit (SPMU) under the Government of India’s Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission).
It was also decided to fill up 184 project specific posts at State, District and Block level for the project implementation. The tenure of these posts would be co-terminus with the duration of the Poshan Abhiyaan, that is till March 31, 2020.
The posts include three of Consultant-Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Capacity Building, Consultant-Health and Nutrition, Consultant-Financial Management and Procurement, two project associates, 22 District Coordinators and 155 Block Coordinators, besides two office messengers.
ZOO REVENUE TO GO TO PZDS ACCOUNT
The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to revert to the earlier system of depositing the revenue collected from sale of entry tickets and other sources in all zoos of the State into the Punjab Zoos Development Society (PZDS) account.
The decision has been prompted by the increase in footfalls at the zoos, especially the Chhatbir Zoo, thus leading to growing challenges in maintaining the upkeep of the zoos.
The Bill would also mandate PZDS deposit of revenue collected from all other sources at the zoos, such as canteens, parking place, safaris, vehicles etc, as well as revenue to be generated in future from food court or any other source of income.
It will supersede the Cabinet Sub-Committee decision taken on February 5, 2018, directing the society to deposit all proceeds into the state government treasury.
CABINET APPROVES BILLS TO TABLE IN ASSEMBLY
Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday stamped its approval on new Bills relating to procurement, amendment to state civil services rules and postings in veterinary hospitals in the State, as well as the Excise Act Amendment Ordinance.
The Cabinet approved the draft of ‘The Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2019’ to ensure efficiency, economy and transparency besides providing fair and equitable treatment to bidders in order to promote healthy competition and put in place mechanism to prevent corrupt practices.
The draft legislation relates to all procurements which are met from the Government accounts including consolidated fund, public accounts and contingent fund of the state. It would apply to all procuring entities, whether an Administrative Department or Board, Corporation, PSU or semi-autonomous bodies or a society of an Administrative Department.
The Cabinet also gave nod for conversion of Punjab Excise Act Amendment Ordinance 2019 (Punjab Ordinance No. 2 of 2019) into an Act by presenting a Bill during the forthcoming monsoon session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. This enactment is related to amendment in clause (C) of section of 31 of Punjab Excise Act, 1914 as a regulatory or monitoring measure only.
Further, the Cabinet has approved amendment in Civil Services (Departmental Examination) Punjab Rules, 2014, for the posts of Assistant Commissioners or Extra Assistant Commissioners.
To provide efficient animal health services in the veterinary hospitals across the State, the Cabinet okayed continuation of services of Service Providers (516 Veterinary Pharmacists and 531 Safai Sewaks) for a period of one year — from March 31, 2019, to March 31, 2020.
The decision has been taken to ensure smooth functioning of the veterinary hospital, besides enabling farmers to avail the best veterinary services for the livestock.
