Aiming to provide “affordable housing for all” in the next two years, Punjab Government on Wednesday decided to set up Punjab State Affordable Housing Development Authority headed by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The decision was taken by the State Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday. With an aim to provide housing to the economically weaker sections (EWS), lower income group (lIG) and other vulnerable sections of society, the Authority would construct one lakh dwelling units in the state in next two years.
“The vulnerable sections of society would include scheduled castes, backward classes, minorities, senior citizens and physically challenged persons in the state to ensure that no individual was left shelter less,” he said.
The Authority would also have Deputy Chief Minister or Housing and Urban Development Minister, local Government Minister, Finance Minister, labour and Employment Minister, Rural Development Minister and Chief Secretary as its members while Secretary Housing and Urban Development as its member secretary.
THREE FSls AT BATHINDA, lUDHIANA, JAlANDHAR
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of three new Forensic Science laboratories (FSls) at Bathinda, ludhiana and Jalandhar along with the creation of 33 posts of group A, B, C and D categories.
“This would reduce the time taken for testing of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) samples and also curtail the pendency of testing NDPS samples and help in intensifying the ongoing efforts to curb the drug menace in the state,” said the spokesperson.
With this, the total number of laboratories in the state has come up to four as one of them was already functioning at SAS Nagar (Mohali).
DCs TO VERIFY EXISTING CARDS UNDER ATTA-DAl SCHEME
To provide subsidised Atta-Dal to the economically weaker sections of the society, the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for amending state’s game-changer Atta-Dal scheme to implement the National Food Security Act, 2013, or the New Atta Dal scheme in Punjab.
The move is likely to benefit 31 lakh identified beneficiary families under the scheme. It was also decided that the Deputy Commissioners would verify all existing cards by January 15, 2015, across the state and no new card would be issued till then. It would also be ensured that only genuine beneficiaries get benefit of the scheme.
Cabinet also decided that the verification of genuine pensioners under all pension schemes should be completed by February 1, 2015.
PUDA TO DEVElOP URBAN ESTATE ON BATHINDA JAIlS’ AGRI lAND
In another major decision, the State Cabinet has put its stamp of approval to transfer 13 acres of agriculture land of Bathinda Central Jail to Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) for developing an urban estate at the site.
The State is estimating to generate additional revenue of `127 crore for PUDA.
FOUR CITRUS COUNCIlS WOUND UP
To reduce avoidable financial burden on the State Government, the Cabinet decided to wind-up four citrus councils — Council for Citrus and Agri Juicing, Council of Viticulture, Council for Value Added Horticulture and Organic Farming Council of Punjab.
VAT ON HEAVY MACHINERY REDUCED TO 5.5%
Cabinet has approved to slash the rate of value added tax (VAT) from existing 13 per cent plus 10 per cent surcharge to 5.5 per cent plus 10 per cent surcharge as a major relief to the trade of heavy machinery including cranes and earth moving equipments in the state.
The rates of VAT have been brought at par with the neighbouring states and it was hoped that it would help sale of these items in the state.
MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH TECHNICAl UNIVERSITY AT BATHINDA
In a move aimed at imparting high quality technical education to the students of the Malwa region, the Cabinet also gave its approval to promulgate an ordinance for setting up Maharaja Ranjit Singh Technical University at Bathinda.
The territorial jurisdiction of this university would be Bathinda, Barnala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala and Sangrur districts of the state.
SUKHBIR EMPOWERED TO DECIDE ON RATIONAlIsING VAT ON COTTON YARN
To provide level playing field and offer competitive market to the local cotton spinners, the Cabinet considered rationalization of VAT on cotton and other types of yarn (excluding 100 percent polyester filament yarn) in the state.
The decision is expected to give boost to employment opportunities and would also expand spinning business in the state. Cabinet has authorized Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to take a decision in this regard.