In order to secure the interests of those farmers who have been in continuous cultivating possession of evacuee land since Kharif 2000, the Punjab Cabinet today gave approval to amend Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Act, 1976 by inserting a new section 4 (1) A after second proviso of section 4 (1).A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan, this evening.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of Chief Minister’s Office said that this amendment, which would be applicable retrospectively, would not only benefit those who were in unauthorised continuous possession of evacuee land but would also safeguard 9234 occupants in 15 districts who were allotted this land under old policy under section 4 (1) C of the Act issued on dated 26/09/2007. A large number of farmers would be immensely benefitted under this decision.In a big reprieve to the pea cultivators of state, the Punjab Cabinet today gave approval to release a sum of Rs 1.56 crore as compensation to the farmers in lieu of loss suffered by them due to inferior supply of pea seeds by the National Seed Corporation (NSC).
This decision would benefit as many as 937 pea cultivators of the state, who had incurred huge loss due to supply of 73020 kilograms of spurious pea seed by NSC, after revealed in a special survey conducted by the Revenue Department. As per report 1625.85 acres of pea crop has been perished due to supply of sub standard pea seeds.Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod to establish offices of District Program Officers of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at Pathankot and Fazilka by creating two posts each of District Program Officer, Superintendent, Data Assistant/ Assistant, Accountant/ Clerk, Clerk/ Data Entry Operator and Peon in these districts.The Cabinet also okayed to omit provision 3 (1-A) of “The Punjab State Legislatures Members (Pension and Medical facilities Regulation) Act 1977” and to amend the provision 3 (5) of “The Punjab State Legislatures Members (Pension and Medical facilities Regulation) Act 1977” under the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 thereby stipulating that if a person was declared disqualified by any court of law, he would not be eligible for pension during the said term.
The Cabinet also decided to give approval for conversion of “The Punjab Development of Trade, Commerce and Industries (Validation) Ordinance, 2015” into an Act by tabling a Bill during the ongoing Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The Ordinance envisages for imposing tax on goods brought in the state to be kept in a fund for developing industrial estates, focal points and industrial clusters, providing financial aids, grants, incentives and subsidies to financial, industrial and commercial units, creating infrastructure for supply of water and power, creating, developing and maintaining other infrastructure, providing amenities to public in local area, implementing social welfare schemes for public in local area and any other purpose connected with development of trade, commerce and industry or for facilities relating thereto which the state government may specify. The rate of tax and the goods on which such tax was to be imposed would be specified by the government from time to time.