Cabinet approves re-enactment of Punjab laws (Spal provisions) Act for another yr
The Punjab Government on Tuesday gave another chance to property owners in unauthorised colonies to get their plots or buildings regularised so that they could avail benefits of Government facilities like water supply, sewerage and electricity.
For the same, the Punjab Cabinet has approved the re-enactment of the Punjab laws (Special provisions) Act for another year by promulgating Punjab laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014.
The move is expected to provide an opportunity to the property owners for regularising their plots or buildings to avail the facility of sale or purchase of plots and basic civic amenities. Besides, it would also facilitate the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and local Government to clear backlog of pending applications.
The Cabinet has also decided to amend ‘land Owners Become Partners Policy’ for 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. Now, the amended policy envisage either to bear these charges on loan basis by the development authorities or organise 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 its assent to hike 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.
In addition, the Cabinet also approved setting up of Rehabilitation Centers across the State for rehabilitating the drug addicts. Similarly, to impart quality counseling facilities to drug addicts in these centers, the Cabinet gave nod for filling posts of 16 psychiatrists through walk-in-interview instead of through Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).
The Cabinet also approved the State Food and Civil Supplies department’s proposals for smooth and prompt procurement of estimated 140 lakh metric tons of paddy during Kharif Marketing season 2014-15 relating to gunny bags or 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 order to bring far more improvement and efficiency in the functioning of 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.
As per the 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 15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 years of qualifying service.
To overcome the shortage of jail staffs and ensure speedy implementation of reforms in Jail Administration, the Cabinet approved creation of 23 new posts and revival of 16 posts of Deputy Superintendent Grade-2 in Jails department.
Cabinet also gave nod for constituting a committee headed by Chief Secretary to 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.
CABINET APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF NINE WOMEN KABADDI PlAYERS IN MARKFED
Punjab Government on Tuesday offered employment to nine women players of Indian kabaddi team in the state-owned cooperative major Markfed.
The idea behind the move is to boost the morale of sportspersons in Punjab. The women kabaddi team had 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,” said the Government spokesperson.
Subsequent to their appointment in the Markfed, these players would participate in different tournaments as Markfed Kabaddi team, which would provide more publicity to Markfed as well as its premium products, he added.