Taking eco-friendly measures causing a revenue loss of Rs2 crore, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to slash the rate of value added tax (VAT) on e-bikes, e-scooters and e-rickshaws in the State.
The VAT on eco-friendly modes of transport has been reduced from 13 percent-plus-10 percent surcharge (14.30 percent) to 5.5 percent-plus-10 percent surcharge (06.05 percent) — resulting in loss of Rs2 crores to the State exchequer.
The decision, taken by the Council of Ministers during its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has been taken to check the pollution by way of promoting these modes of public transport, which were environment friendly, instead of diesel autos.
Notably, VAT on e-bikes, e-scooters and e-rickshaws in Uttarakhand, Delhi and Rajasthan was zero per cent, whereas in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, it was 5.25 per cent and 13.75 per cent respectively.
For conservation and sustainable utilisation of biological resources in the State, the Cabinet also gave its nod to the notification of Punjab Biological Diversity Rules-2016 thereby facilitating Punjab Biodiversity Board to implement the Biological Diversity Act (BDA), 2002.
These Rules stipulates that all Indian citizens and companies were required to give prior intimation and take approval from Board for access of biological resources from the State for commercial utilsation.
likewise, the biodiversity rich areas of the State would be declared as Biodiversity Heritage Sites under these rules for their conservation, scientific management and maintenance.
PUNJAB ADVOCATES’ WElFARE FUND RUlES, 2016, APPROVED
Cabinet also approved Punjab Advocates’ Welfare Fund Rules, 2016, under Punjab Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 2002. These rules would help to create procedures proposed under the Act, besides making provision for administrative expenditure, payments and investments to be made by the Trustee Committee. The Rules would also define the powers of the chairman, secretary and would streamline the day-to-day functioning of the Trustee Committee.
NOD FOR ‘AMRITSAR TOURISM DEVElOPMENT AUTHORITY’
The Council of Ministers has also given its nod to name Amritsar Tourism Development Authority, a body already constituted under the control of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department to undertake the maintenance of Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sri Durgiana Mandir, Ram Tirath, Town Hall, Gobind Garh Fort and Urban Haat at Amritsar instead of local Government Department. Gobindgarh Fort had also been included within its ambit. Approximately 500 to 750 meters area around Sri Darbar Sahib, Gobindgarh Fort, Durgiana Mandir and Ram Tirath Complex would be under the jurisdiction of this Authority.
The Authority has been authorised to execute works related to maintenance, cleanliness, electricity, monuments-lighting, sanitation, upkeep of roads, solid waste management and other related works in this area.
The funds would be provided from the cess collected under the Excise Policy of the State Government to carry out the activities of the authority.
EX-POST FACTO APPROVAl FOR CREATION OF THREE POSTS OF CPSs
Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for the creation of three posts of the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs), to bring far more efficiency in State administration besides dissemination of policies and programmes of the State Government in a result oriented manner. Notably, with the swearing in of six new CPSs, the number of these posts has gone up to 24, of which 21 have already been approved.
APPROVES TRANSFER OF lAND TO ESTABlISH ‘BHASHA BHAWAN YATRI NIWAS’
Cabinet also approved to lease 16 Kanal of land of Kishan Kot village in Batala tehsil of Gurdaspur district to ‘Sarhad Pune’ for 33 years to establish ‘Bhasha Bhawan Yatri Niwas’ — to be established in border districts of the State where the wards of terrorist and riot affected persons and children of other needy poor families would receive education.
APPROVES PUNISHMENT FOR PCS OFFICER
Cabinet gave its approval to implement the Competent Authority’s decision to stop two increments of PCS officer Vijay Kumar Syal in disagreement with the recommendations of the Punjab Public Service Commission in a disciplinary proceeding case pending against him regarding placing his feet on the memorial of Shaheed Bhagat Singh during his posting as Banga Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).