Opposing the Central Government’s decision to extend special incentives to the hill States, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday said he would pursue the State’s demand for extending similar incentives to the border areas and Kandi belt.
“Punjab’s Kandi and the border areas also have special problems and deserved to be put at par with the hill States in terms of the incentives given by the Central Government,” said Capt Amarinder while talking to mediapersons at the Punjab Kala Bhawan after inaugurating a Photo Journalists Welfare Association exhibition.
He said the Government had even earlier raised the issue with the Centre and would pursue the case even more aggressively now that the decision on the hill States had been taken.
Union Cabinet, days before, decided to extended till March 31, 2027, the sunset clause under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) for the duty exemption scheme for industrial units in the north eastern States and the Himalayan States of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh — a concession that is estimated at Rs 27,413 crore.
The budgetary support will be extended for the industrial units located in these States which availed the benefit of central excise exemption prior to coming into force of GST regime.
As the GST regime permits refund, but no exemption, the “beneficiary” states have been given benefit under the same clause. The central share of Central GST and Integrated GST will be refunded to the affected eligible industrial units.
As per an estimate, as many 4,284 eligible units located in these States will be benefited from the scheme.
On the speculation of the expelled Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur joining the Congress, the Chief Minister said while Chhotepur was a good friend, they had not met for the past two months.
Verdic against Dera head: Capt warns against any attempt to disrupt State’s law and order
Reacting on the possibility of protests on the upcoming verdict on Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder made it clear that nobody would be allowed to disturb the State’s law and order. “I have directed the Police Department to remain alert against any attempt to disrupt peace in Punjab. Peace has to be maintained at all costs in order to ensure the State’s progress,” he added.
Received T Haq Panel report
On the T Haq Committee findings and recommendations on the crop loan waiver issue, Capt Amarinder said he had received the report and would study the same and take appropriate decisions in the interest of the farmers. The additional loan liability his government would need to incur in order to repay the loans of the farmers was a necessity for helping the beleaguered farming community, he added.
No second panel on sand mining
Ruling out any move to set up another panel to look into sand mining, Capt Amarinder made it clear that no second committee had been formed to examine Justice JS Narang’s report on the sand mining auctions and the allegations against the state Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh. “I’ve marked the report to the Chief Secretary, who may have involved other officials for studying its findings,” he said.