The Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to summon a Special Session of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha for one day, on November 6, 2019, for commemoration of the historic 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.The Cabinet, at a meeting here chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, approved recommending to the Governor summoning of the 9th session of the House under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution of India.The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues were here to review the progress of various projects for the mega events being organized to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Great Guru.
Approval for IDIPT project variation
In another decision, the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for variation in the sub-projects implemented under Trance-1 of the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism (IDIPT). The decision has been taken in line with the revised proposal for implementation of the sub-projects under Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) assisted Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism (IDIPT) project, according to an official spokesperson.The objective of the revision is to expedite the development works being done under the IDIPT project and ensure their timely completion. The variation, up to 10% of the sub-project cost, shall be allowed by the Project Director, and up to 15% by the Administrative Secretary.The Chief Secretary and the Chairman State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) have been authorized to permit variation above 15%, after obtaining the concurrence of ADB.
Mohali Medical College recruitment
Meanwhile, in a bid to provide affordable healthcare and diagnostic services to the public and to offer an opportunity to students to pursue a career in medical education, the Council of Minister also approved phase-wise recruitment of 994 new posts of faculty, paramedical staff and other posts, for setting up of Government Medical College, SAS Nagar (Mohali), with intake of 100 seats for MBBS course. This decision would pave the way for the first session of the new college to begin in 2020-21.
Qila Androon maintenance
The Cabinet also gave the nod for revival of four vacant posts, including two safai sewaks, a ragi and a frash, at Burj Baba Ala Singh, Qila Androon in Patiala, which has a total of 19 posts. The maintenance work of this fort is entrusted to the Cultural Affairs Department. Pertinently, the Qila Mubarak was first built in 1763 as a ‘Kachigarhi’ (mud fortress) by Baba Ala Singh, who was the founder of the Patiala dynasty. Later, it was reconstructed in baked bricks.
Guidelines for incentives to Closed Industrial Units
In a move aimed at settling the state’s liability of sanctioned capital investment incentive under various Industrial Policies, the Cabinet okayed new guidelines for the disbursement of sanctioned capital subsidy/investment incentives to the Closed Industrial Units in the state under industrial policies of 1978, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2003. This will help clear the liability of the state by way of disbursement of capital subsidy to the eligible and entitled industrial units, as defined in the Guidelines. It would also encourage industrialists to set up new industrial units in the state, to enhance the employment potential and further boost the state’s economy.
Other decisions
In another decision, the Cabinet approved reduction in the existing provision of maximum period of continuous leave of five years to three years, by amending rule 3.25 of Punjab Civil Services, Volume-1, Part-1.Ex-post facto approval was also given for revival of two posts of Drivers at Punjab Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh.The Cabinet has also approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department Punjab highlighting its activities and achievements for the year 2017-18.