The year 2013 had deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal striding like a colossus CEO to see Punjab ascending new heights.The year kicked off with first NRI sammelan to be held in the state where more than 500 NRIs took part. Subsequently Punjab took a slew of measures to redress grievances and problems of the NRIs which included amendment to the tenancy act and introduction of NRI cards.The deputy chief minister later laid down blueprint for the development of major cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana that saw major infrastructure works being undertaken the urban sector.Close on the heels came around the New Chandigarh project with an ambitious lay out, where the proposal to set up hubs for the IT, education and health sector has been mooted.
Sukhbi Badal, anchoring the role of a CEO, aimed it big. The CEO of New Punjab Inc scripted and implemented some innovative policies and programmes in the fields of industry, commerce, power, sports, civil aviation, roads, bridges, health, tourism, education and agriculture.
Crossing all hurdles and overcoming resistance, the young and dynamic leader worked hard to create industry-friendly ambiance in the Green Revolution state.In the run-up to the historic investors' meet, the deputy chief minister did his spade work after he toured major industrial centres like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.Soon Punjab moved on the road of becoming the next investment destination of India with the top business honchos of the country and abroad promising Rs 65,000 crore investment at the first-ever Progressive Punjab Investors Summit held in Mohali.
With 121 industrial giants coming up with investment proposals in different sectors in Punjab, Sukhbir Badal’s dream of bringing Rs two lakh crore investment to the state stood close to realization..The agreements to script Punjab’s tale of transformation were inked after the state government doled out a slew of first-time-in-the-country package of fiscal incentives for industrial promotion-2013 (FIIP-2013) to all segments of industry.The measures in the new industrial police included retention of VAT and CST, exemption from electricity duty, stamp duty and property tax, waiver of mandi fee, Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Infrastructure Development (ID) Cess.The announcement of the new industrial policy was an apt precursor to the historic investment summit as it laid down the blueprint of the state's plans.Punjab touched a new threshold when it was declared a power surplus state with two new thermal power plants in Rajpura and Mansa coming on stream. It ushered in a new era as Punjab, which had been reeling under power shortage for decades, suddenly.The industrialization drive was keenly accompanied by slew of reforms in the Governance and also of the introduction of the Right to Service act. More than 200 services were brought under the RTS act even as administrative reforms transformed the culture of governance in Punjab.2013 also saw Punjab waging a war against drugs. More than 10,000 persons involved in drug trafficking were put behind the bars all over the state. The arrest of Bhola, a decorated wrestler-turned-cop-turned-druglord, on November 11 rained recovery of synthetic drugs. Till date, the biggest recovery topped Rs 3,323-crore mark with the arrest of over 30 high and low profile operators.
SPORTS:Punjab has constructed 10 world class multi sports stadium with sports hostels of international standards at a total cost of Rs. 200 crore besides distributing 5000 multi gyms and 9000 sports kits in the state at a cost of Rs. 22.03 crore. The state’s initiative to organize World Cup Kabaddi has brought Punjab on the International sports map. Punjab has also developed Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Center of excellence in sports at Mohali with 4 regional campuses at Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. Six world class Astroturf hockey stadiums have been constructed besides implementing comprehensive Sports Policy.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT: In the coming year Punjab will have 100 percent availability of basic amenities since it has approved Rs. 8888 crore project in this regard. 50 new more Urban Estates will come up in the state and master plan for all cities and towns are at on the advanced stage of completion. Rs. 818 crore has also been sanctioned for 24X7 water supply and sewerage system in more than 40 towns. Solid Waste Management plan has been finalized for all 137 cities, which have been pided in 8 clusters in the state.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS: The state has achieved success at the cutting level of interaction between common masses and public offices as per the Deputy CM’s vision. By October 2013 Punjab had brought 87 citizen centric services under the ambit of Right to Service Act and now 149 services under this act have been notified. As many as 500 SAANJH Kendras, 153 Fard Kendras, 132 Suwidha Kendra and 2112 Gram Suwidha Kendras have been setup, which have delivered more than 1 crore services with a 98 percent success rate. Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawan Shahr) districts have been brought under e-district project.
EXCISE AND TAXATION- The Excise and Taxation Department was the first department to become paperless this year. A dedicated ‘VAT Refund’ fund, which would disburse online refunds in the accounts of VAT payers, has also been established. Punjab is also performing well financially with VAT collection increasing from Rs. 6037 crore in 2007 to 20068 in 2013. The VAT & CST collection from April 2007 to March 2012 was Rs. 10825 crore with a record 47 percent increase while Debt to GSDP ratio decreased to 31.5 percent from 43 percent in 2012.The year truly ended on a high for Punjab with Deputy CM asserting, “Holistic development, growth and to make Punjab a No.1 state in the country is my vision and I am committed to deliver, which I envisioned for the people of Punjab.”