Ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday took a series of populist steps to enhance its chances in the tough electoral battle ahead. To provide constructed houses to the Economically Weaker Section of the society across the State, the Cabinet approved an invitation of applications for allotment of 25,000 EWS houses to be constructed by various Urban Development Authorities.
The applications for these houses along with necessary documents would be invited from the eligible applicants as per approved policy. The dwelling units would have carpet area of approximately 30 square metres.
The Cabinet also gave approval to upgrade 229 schools to different levels — 46 Elementary to Middle schools, 100 Middle to High schools, and 83 High to Senior Secondary schools.
The move is aimed to obviate the students from the hardships of travelling long distances to continue their further studies, which causes them inconvenience and even leads their dropping out of the Schools. Besides, this decision taken in the public interest would also bring administrative efficiency.
Notably, the government has been receiving numerous requests from various Gram Panchayats and Councillors of Municipal Town to redress this issue.
300 SQ YARDS RESIDENTIAL PLOTS TO BE ALLOTTED ON “AS IS WHERE IS BASIS”
To avoid unnecessary litigation, the Cabinet has decided to allot residential plots up to 300 square yards to the 450 families or occupants of built up houses or plots who are residing since long in Urban Estate Phase 2 and 3, situated in Preet Nagar, Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, Ajit road etc at Bathinda on “as is where is basis” on 29 acres of acquired land of BDA by charging cost of land and development charges in lump sum. The decision would be applicable to the current occupants of plots up to 300 sq yards who possess legal documents executed up to September 30, 2021. Bathinda Development Authority’s Chief Administrator would take possession of the vacant land and proceed further for auctioning the same after approval of layout plan.
REDUCES 10% SIMPLE INTEREST + 3% PENAL INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING DUES OF DEVELOPERS
To give relief to developers and boost the state’s real estate sector, the Cabinet has decided to reduce 10 percent simple interest plus three percent penal interest on outstanding dues of developers such as of EDC to 8.5 percent compounded annually in Urban Development Authorities. Besides, the Cabinet also decided to drop normal and penal rates of interest to 7.5 percent compounded annually and 10 percent compounded annually in future for new as well as ongoing projects.
POLICIES ON PUNJAB FOOD GRAINS LABOUR AND CARTAGE-2022 AND PUNJAB FOOD GRAINS TRANSPORTATION-2022
Keeping in view the ensuing procurement season for the year 2022-23, beginning from April 1, 2022, the Cabinet has approved the Punjab Food Grains Labour and Cartage Policy and the Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy for the year 2022 for labour and cartage; and transportation of food grains from mandis to its storage points respectively. Under both the policies approved by the Cabinet, the labour and cartage work besides transportation of foodgrains would be allocated through a competitive and transparent online tender system. Pertinently, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department procures food grains through its procurement agencies and Food Corporation of India, from various designated centres or mandis.
STAGE CARRIAGE VEHICLES, BUSES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS exempted FROM MV TAX DURING COVID
To relieve the transport sector from huge financial loss suffered due to lockdown imposed during the second phase of COVID-19, the Cabinet approved exemption from Motor Vehicle Tax to contract carriage vehicles (upto 16 seater), buses of religious organizations and stage carriage buses (upto 35 seater). With these decisions, the existing rates would be reduced from Rs 30,000 to Rs 20,000 per bus per year for all types of stage carriage buses (upto 35 seats, private/STUs) and to withdraw five percent annual increase in the rate of Motor Vehicle Tax. Besides, the Cabinet approved exemption from Motor Vehicle Tax to contract carriages upto 16 seater from May 20, 2020, to December 31, 2020; and buses of religious places from March 23, 2020, to December 31, 2020.
775 POSTS OF HEALTH STAFF APPROVED
To provide better health facilities to the people at their doorstep, the Cabinet also approved creation of 775 posts including Senior Medical Officer, Medical Officers, Staff Nurse, Pharmacist, Laboratory Technician, etc by upgrading 28 health Institutions (PHCs, CHCs, SDHs etc) which is under active consideration. The Cabinet also gave approval for opening of new Trauma Centre at Community Health Centre at Morinda. Spokesperson said that after the up-gradation of these Institutions, additional staff would be required and to meet the staff shortage, therefore 706 new posts of different cadres would be created as per department norms. To provide immediate medical facilities to the injured in tragic incidents, the Cabinet also decided to create 69 new posts of various cadres for Trauma Centres at Pathankot and Jalandhar. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also gave approval to abolish 50 posts as per department norms upon upgradation of these health institutions.