Punjab Cabinet today approved the policy for Housing and Urban development Punjab-2013 with a major thrust to ensure affordable housing to the weaker sections of the society. A decision to this effect was taken in the Council of Minister’s meeting Chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal held here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the new policy would also focus on the rationalization of norms for the housing projects thereby making the procedures far simpler and time bound. The policy had also envisaged the issues of rationalized development controls, common buildings rules, incentives for construction of affordable houses and green buildings, procedures and time lines of approval of various projects and rationalization of potential zones, density and charges. The policy has also emphasized on the need to evolve a mechanism by including a two new policies of ‘Land Pooling’ and ‘Land Owners become Partner in Development’ to avoid any inordinate delay due to cumbersome process of land acquisition. These policies were aimed at acquiring land easily for the urban development projects for the benefit of both government as well as the land owners.
In another significant decision clearing the decks for setting up of the Directorate of Maize research in the state, the Cabinet also approved transfer of 100 hectares of land in Ladowal near Ludhiana, free of cost to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). The step was aimed at giving a major thrust to the much needed agriculture persification program in Punjab. This endeavor would also help in development of new hybrid and high yielding varieties of maize thereby contributing in improving the income of farmers substantially.
In wake of the directions of the Apex Court, the Cabinet also gave nod for amending the Punjab Superior Judicial Service Rules, 2007 thereby changing the percentage of promotion to superior judicial services from 50% to 65% and out of turn promotion based on exam from 25% to 10%.In order to mop up additional revenue in the state kitty, the Cabinet also gave approval to levy stamp duty @ 2% on the Power of Attorney given for sale/transfer of land to non family transferees by amending entry number 48 of Schedule 1-A of the Indian Stamp Act 1899.
The Cabinet also gave approval for the creation of new block along with required staff at Arniwala Sheikh Subhan in district Fazilka by including 40 villages, of which 35 belonged to Fazilka block and five from Abohar block. Taking a serious note of shortage of officials in the Prosecution and Litigation department at district level and the consequential difficulties faced by the general public in pursuing their cases in the court, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 421 posts in next three years. This step was aimed at expediting long pending cases in the courts with more focused attention.
In view of hardships faced by the residents of 12 villages in Sangrur district, the Cabinet approved the transfer of these villages on the recommendations of village Panchayats to Sub Tehsil Amargarh from Tehsil Malerkotla. The Cabinet also decided that the vacant lands of the Irrigation department which could not be used in any manner by it would be transferred to the Housing and Urban development department for its optimum utilization. The revenue generated from it would be used for the strengthening, revamping and creating infra structure in Irrigation department.
While taking a serious note of ever increasing litigation in the various departments, the Cabinet also decided to appoint senior law officers with the Principal Secretaries of the nine major departments and four with the Director General of Police. This has been done so that due care and attention could be paid to the ongoing cases besides avoiding unwarranted litigation. In addition 22 posts of the District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney in the offices of Deputy Commissioners across the state has been created to give legal advice to them so that speedy and quality disposal of cases could be carried out where legal issues were involved.
The Cabinet also gave approval to the state government for taking over the control of Government aided SD High School Maur Mandi, Bathinda besides the creation of new posts. The move was aimed at imparting quality education to the students free of cost.
The Cabinet also okayed the acceptance of recommendations and action taken report on the recommendations of the Fourth Punjab Finance Commission for the Panchayats and Municipal Councils in the state for the period from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016.
The Cabinet also approved to amend section 18 (2) and 19 (ii) of Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act 2002 in order to induct Deputy Chief Minister Punjab as Co-chairman of the Board of Punjab Infra Structure Development Board (PIDB).