In a significant decision aimed at checking spiraling prices of the Sand/ gravel in the state, the Punjab Cabinet today gave green signal for amending Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 thereby allowing the Industries department to allot 37 quarries to the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) at a fixed rate of royalty to supply cheap sand/ bajri to the consumers. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at CMO, this afternoon.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the PSIEC would ensure the supply of sand/ bajri at pit head level on a fair price whereas the Punjab Mandi Board would supply the minerals to the consumers at their doorsteps or at market committee yards by charging transport rates fixed by the transport department on kilometer basis. The consumer would have the option of booking their demand of sand/ gravel at Market committee level also. The Cabinet also decided to bifurcate the post of Director Industries and Mining. A separate officer of the requisite seniority would be posted as Director Mining, whose sole responsibility would be to look after the mining of minor minerals in the state and supply thereof. The Cabinet also authorized the Industries and Agriculture Ministers to remove any difficulty coming in the way of implementing this policy.
In another major decision, the Cabinet also decided to merge 13034 sanctioned posts of ETT teachers in the 5772 schools run by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department in the state Education department.Likewise, the Cabinet also approved the merger of 583 posts of Rural Veterinary Officers working in 582 Civil Veterinary Hospitals managed and run by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department in the Animal Husbandry. The Cabinet also decided to abolish the 'Abiana' charged from the farmers @ Rs 150 per acre per crop. In a bid to maintain and clean the existing Minors and distributaries in the state, the Cabinet also approved to levy water cess @ Rs.50 per acre per crop instead of Abiana by amending the Indian Canal & Drainage Act, 1873. This decision would help in mobilizing sufficient funds for the proper maintenance and cleaning of these Minors and distributaries.
The Cabinet also decided that a master plan of the Irrigation network be prepared for providing required irrigation water to the farmers through a robust canal system. It was also decided to set up water users committees at XEN level. This Committee under the respective XEN would collect the cleaning cess and also ensure its use for cleaning minors and distributaries in the jurisdiction of respective committees. The Cabinet also decided that an amount equal to the cleaning cess collected in the state would be contributed by the state government which would be used for rejuvenating and cleaning the canal network in the state. The users of canal water would oversee the utilization of this cess. The cleaning cess would be levied on only those farmers who used canal water.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Gram Panchayat land lease policy thereby authorizing the concerned Deputy Commissioner of the district for approving the lease of gram panchayat land (shamlat) for 33 years for setting up the projects cleared by the department of Power and Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). Under the amended policy the annual rate of lease has also been reduced from 10% to 5%. This decision would not only curtail inordinate delay in the leasing out gram panchayat land but also help the prospective investors for quick implementation of solar power and other renewable energy projects duly approved by the power department and PEDA.
The Cabinet also gave go ahead for amending the Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Act, 1977 with retrospective effect thereby allowing pension on a graded scale to an MLA who has been elected as such but not disqualified. In a move aimed at ensuring the recruitment and promotion of all the categories in Group A and B of Technical Education and Industrial Training department, the Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for notifying Rules of the department. The Cabinet also authorized the Excise and Taxation Minister to review and rationalize the VAT levied on aerated drinks and cigarettes. The Cabinet, similarly also authorized the Transport Minister to review and rationalize the registration fee levied on four wheeler vehicles.