Punjab Cabinet Decisions 9 December

Punjab Cabinet Decisions 9 December

MOVE TO BENEFIT 4587 SUCH EMPLOYEES ACROSS STATE

The Punjab Cabinet gave approval to regularize the services of those safai sewaks and sewermen working on contract basis in the Urban Local Bodies before Cabinet’s decision on June 18, 2021. This decision would benefit 4587 employees to uplift the standard of living of their families.

Notably, with the regularization of services of these employees the additional annual financial burden during the first three years of probation would be approximately Rs. 46 crore. After the probation period, annual increment and other allowances would be paid. This additional financial burden would be borne by the Urban Local Bodies.

DIRECTS BOARDS, CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES, PARASTATALS ETC. ALONG WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS TO AMEND SERVICE RULES FOR MAKING QUALIFICATION OF PUNJABI LANGUAGE MANDATORY FOR DIRECT RECRUITMENT

In a bid to promote Punjabi language across the state, the Cabinet has decided to implement the requisite qualification of Punjabi language for direct recruitment in the boards, corporations, commissions, authorities, parastatals etc. along with all the departments in the letter and spirit. The Cabinet also directed all the departments, boards, corporations, authorities, parastatals etc. to immediately amend its service rules so as to make provision of knowledge of Punjabi language compulsory under section 17 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994.

GIVES NOD TO WAIVE ARREARS OF OUTSTANDING WATER BILLS WORTH RS.500 CRORE

In a bid to extend a major relief to the people across the state, the Cabinet also decided to waive the arrears of outstanding water bills worth Rs.500 crore.

Notably, as per the decision taken by the government, the amount of arrears waived of water bill of rural consumers of schemes run by the Water Supply & Sanitation department is Rs. 256.97 crore and apart from this Rs. 17.98 crore has been waived for schemes run by department in urban areas. Also, the amount waived for the schemes run by the Gram Panchayats/Committees amounts to Rs. 224.55 crore.

It may be recalled that Water Supply and Sanitation department is providing potable water to the people in rural areas of Punjab and in selected cities of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Faridkot and Civil Station Bathinda.

As per the decision taken by Water Supply and Sanitation Committees, the outstanding water bills of the schemes managed by the department/panchayats and committees stand waived. Requisite payment will be made to DWSS/GPs/GPWSCs by government to offset the loss in revenue recovery so that there is no adverse impact on the maintenance of the schemes.

ENHANCES CURRENT VALUE OF RELIEF BY RS.5000 PER ACRE MAKING IT TO RS. 17000 PER ACRE FOR COTTON GROWERS

In a major relief to the cotton growers across the state, the Cabinet also accorded approval to extend the value of relief for 76-100% loss of cotton crop, a value of Rs. 5000 per acre has been added to the current value of Rs. 12000 per acre making it to Rs. 17000 per acre. By taking this measure, the affected farmers would be able to get a reasonable financial relief from the government. These relief rates will be effective from June 1, 2021.

Notably, a relief worth Rs. 416 crore has been provided to the farmers affected by the damage caused to the cotton crop by the pink bollworm (pest attack).

GIVES NOD TO REGULARISE UN-AUTHORIZED COLONIES AND PLOTS OF THOSE COLONIES BY INTRODUCING RULE U/S 38(2) OF PAPR ACT, 1995

In a bid to regularise un-authorized colonies and plots of those colonies, which were made in violation of Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPR) Act, 1995, the Cabinet decided to introduce a rule under section 38(2) prescribing conditions and restrictions for compounding of offence under the said Act.

Notably, timeline was fixed for these Acts and Policies under these Acts to regularise colonies & plots of these colonies. After expiry of these acts and policies under the Act, the Housing & Urban Development department proposes to insert rule no 31 in the PAPR, 1995 prescribing procedure and conditions and restrictions for compounding of an offence u/s 38(2) of said Act.

APPROVES SERVICE RULES OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES IN EXCISE & TAXATION DEPARTMENT

In a bid to bring far more efficiency, transparency and accountability in the functioning of Excise & Taxation department, the Punjab Cabinet also gave approval to the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department (Subordinate Offices) (Ministerial) Group-C, Service Rules, 2021, Punjab Excise and Taxation Department (Subordinate Offices) (Group-B) Service Rules, 2021, Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioners Office (Head Office, Ministerial Staff) (Group-B) Service Rules, 2021, Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner’s Office (Head Office, Ministerial Staff) (Group-C) Service Rules, 2021.

GIVES NOD TO UPGRADE POST OF ACFA TO DCFA IN PUNJAB CIVIL SECRETARIAT

In order to bring far more efficiency in the Secretariat Administration and achieve the object of optimum utilization of Rs 190.75 Crore budget and to depute well versed and experienced SAS official by Finance Department in the Secretariat Administration, the Cabinet gave approval to the proposal of General Administration department for upgradation of the post of Assistant Controller (Finance & Accounts) to Deputy Controller (Finance & Accounts).

Punjab Cabinet on Thursday declared the activity of excavation of brick earth/ordinary earth from area upto 2 acres and depth upto 3 feet as non mining activity.

A decision to this effect was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi here at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon.

According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, the Brick Kiln Owners shall apply for license as per Form ‘A’ and obtain the license in Form ‘B’ for this purpose. Whereas, the excavation is done beyond above specified limits, the case would be dealt with the prescribed Punjab Minor Mineral Rules (PMMR), 2013 as well as prevailing guidelines. This will ease the process to operationalize the brick kilns besides ensuring the uninterrupted supply of bricks to the consumers at affordable price.

Notably, the various representations have been received from the Brick Kiln Owners of Punjab for declaring the excavation of Brick Earth as Non Mining activity. The Brick Kiln Owners in the representations have highlighted the field problems i.e., obtaining Environment Clearance is a time-consuming process, land owners do not allow their land for excavation of earth from their fields for long term as they have to sow the crops in the fields and the work of brick Kiln is operative for six months only during the year.

DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY CONSUMER TO GET BENEFIT OF REDUCED TARIFF FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2021

In another significant decision, the Cabinet also decided to give huge relief to the domestic electricity consumers having sanctioned load upto 7 KW by reducing electricity tariff rates by Rs.3 per unit w.e.f. November 1, 2021 instead of earlier December 1, 2021. This decision would involve annual financial burden of Rs. 151 crore on the state exchequer thus benefitting nearly 69 lakh out of 71.75 lakh domestic consumers with the reduced tariff.

GIVES GO AHEAD TO TAKE OVER GOVT. AIDED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL KUKARPIND (JALANDHAR)

Acceding to the consent of the management of the Government Aided Private School, Public High School Kukarpind in Jalandhar district, the Cabinet has given a go ahead to take over the School by the State Government in the public interest along with all the assets. The sole employee who is working against an aided post in the School will be regularized in the School Education department against a vacant post.

OKAYS TAKEOVER OF JANTA HIGH SCHOOL, PHULDIWAL (JALANDHAR) BY SCHOOL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

In view of the difficulties faced by the students and demand of the local people, the Cabinet also decided to take over Janta High School, Phuldiwal in Jalandhar district (Private School affiliated to PSEB) which had remained closed since year 2008. Resultantly, the students of the region have been facing various hardships as there is no Government School in the vicinity of this School, which is currently under the control of Village Panchayat Phuldiwal. The said schools would be taken over by School Education department along with all the assets from the Gram Panchayat to make it functional up to the High Level.

CABINET ALLOWS REGULARIZATION OF STANDALONE BUILDINGS ON “AS IS WHERE IS BASIS” BY TAKING REGULARIZATION FEE

The Cabinet also decided to facilitate regularization of standalone buildings i.e. Educational, Medical, Commercial, Farm Houses, Religious, Social, Charitable Institute which were constructed without the prior permission of Housing & Urban Development department outside Municipal Limits, Urban Estates and Industrial Focal Points on “as is where is basis” by taking regularization fee. The applications can be submitted for the said purpose till December 31, 2022 by paying the requisite fee which has been now reduced drastically.

APPROVES CREATION OF 76 NEW POSTS OF DIFFERENT CADRES FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HOSPITAL AT VILLAGE JHORDA IN LUDHIANA AND UPGRADED SUB DIVISIONAL HOSPITAL AT SRI CHAMKAUR SAHIB AND SBS NAGAR

In order to ensure quality healthcare services to the people of the State, the Punjab Cabinet also approved the creation of 76 new posts of various cadres for the 25 bedded hospital built in the name of the legendary martyr Shaheed Havaildar Ishar Singh (Saragarhi Post Commander) at Village Jhorda in Ludhiana district besides Sub-Divisional Hospital Sri Chamkaur Sahib in Roopnagar district and Community Health Centre Banga in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district to Sub Divisional Hospital.

APPROVES ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FOR 2018-19

The Cabinet also gave approval to the annual administrative reports of Industries & Commerce department for the year 2018-19.