Despite its “New Atta-Dal scheme” running into rough weathers following indefinite strike by the State’s 26,000 depot holders, Punjab Government has decided to induct 13.5 lakh more families under the scheme.
The nod for the same was given by the state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Thursday to give a much-needed relief to the common man reeling under the impact of high inflation while presiding over a meeting of Principal Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners along with Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jyani at ludhiana.
Sukhbir announced that the state government would start distribution of new blue cards in the state from February 5, and “the process would be completed within next 10 days”.
He asked the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor the distribution of blue cards and health cards to the beneficiaries so the people should no face any difficulty.
Asking the Food and Civil Supply officials to accelerate the scrutiny process of lists of blue card holders, Sukhbir said that the lists of valid beneficiaries should be uploaded on departmental website on or before January 22 so that claims for objections could be filed up to January 29. He directed that final lists should be uploaded by February 1.
To provide sand and gravel on reasonable rates, Sukhbir gave his approval to new
distribution scheme of mineral supplies, which would
be implemented from
February 1.
Under this policy, mineral supplies would be controlled by Mandi Board as nodal agency in coordination with district administrations and mining department.
“Punjab Government has identified three major areas in the state —Pathankot, Rupnagar and Ferozpur districts — which supplies major share of natural resources. Under new distribution system, DCs would supervise and publically publish the affordable sand and gravel rates,” said Sukhbir, while strictly asking the DCs to ensure that there would be no monopoly in availability and transportation in sand and gravel.
Sukhbir assured that from next month, rates of sand and gravel would come down as Punjab Government is all set for the auction of 26 A-Category mines on February 6 and 7.