The Punjab Cabinet today gave nod for the revised policy for regularization of unauthorized colonies with an emphasis on simplified procedure and reduction in the rates of composition and regularization fees.A decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that now under the revised policy of regularization of unauthorized colonies, the composition fee for regularization of such colonies has been linked with collector rate to remove the ambiguity among different zones. Now 0.5% of the collector rate (as on April 1, 2013) would be charged for compounding of colonies established before 2007 with the minimum cap of Rs. 25000/- per acre and maximum Rs. 1.00 lac per acre and 2% of the collector rate would be charged for colonies established after 2007 with the minimum cap of Rs. 1.00 lac per acre and maximum cap of Rs. 5.00 lac per acre.
However, the charges for colonies having area above 20 acres, the composition fee would be 5% of the collector rate for colonies established after August 17, 2007. The residential plots measuring up to 50 sq. yards in all the residential colonies and plots up to 100 sq. yards in slum areas shall be exempted under this policy. Separate rates have been fixed for regularization of industrial and commercial colonies and plots/buildings. The regularization charges for plots/buildings have also been reduced. To establish the percentage of sale of plots, the sale deed as well as the registered full and final payment agreement shall be considered. By linking the composition fee with collector rates the ambiguity created by establishing different zones in the earlier policy had also been removed. Overlapping of two zones would not be any problem in this policy. Under the revised policy, a provision of easy payment in installments has been made. Now the colonizer does not have to pay 25% of the total charges along with application and he can deposit 10% of the total charges along with application and rest 15% charges shall be paid within 30 days from the date of application submitted by him. The composition fee for regularization of unauthorized colonies falling under category A-III has been reduced from 25% of the total composition fee to 10% keeping in view the fact that in this case the colonizer has to pay CLU, EDC, SIF charges etc. as per present rates to get license for the colony. The provision for self-certification and simplified procedure has also been made with which the plot holders/building owners in unauthorized colonies could get their plots/buildings regularized by paying charges fixed under this policy even if the offence of the Colonizer has not been compounded so far. The last date for submission of applications would be within 45 days from the date of notification of this policy.
In another landmark decision the Cabinet also approved Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Rules, 2013 for regulating the trade of travel agencies and consultants. These rules envisaged that a person desirous of undertaking the profession of travel agent or consultant or who was already in this profession on the date of commencement of the act would have to seek a license from the state government by depositing the requisite documents along with the prescribed fee. The license valid for five years would be renewed after the submission of fee of renewable fee. To ensure the development of infrastructure in the state, the Cabinet also gave go ahead to PUDA for mobilizing funds to the tune of Rs. 1000 crore from banks/financial institutions against OUVGL properties. These funds would give further fillip to development works in the state.
The Cabinet also approved to constitute a cabinet sub-committee for re-structuring Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. This step is being taken in view of the massive sewerage works being undertaken in the cities of the state.
In order to bring in far more professionalism in the Cooperative Banks, the Cabinet also approved amending section 26 (2) (a) of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 to vest the power with Govt. for appointing Managing Directors of the Central Cooperative Banks also from amongst the experts in the field of banking, management and finance. It may be recalled that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Central Cooperatives Banks are presently elected by the respective Board of Directors (BoDs). Similarly, the Managing Directors are also elected by the BoDs. Since the Reserve Bank of India has now laid down stringent procedure for granting a license to the Central Cooperative Banks, deviance or non-compliance would adversely affect the refinance from NABARD. Hence it had become imperative to bring efficiency in the management of these Banks. The Cabinet also decided to rationalize the collection of water rates by charging the existing water cess @ Rs. 150 per acre per year from the actual users from canal water only to the extent of their actual irrigated area; and further to notify that the charges of all type of crops should be recoverable in two equal installments of Rs. 75 per acre payable by 31st May and 30th November respectively every year and that the above should continue to be applicable to other means of irrigation on which the water rates were presently applicable.
The Cabinet also decided to impose a uniform forfeiture of fixed 10% of the total amount of the consideration money in case of resumption proceedings. It may be recalled that as per provision of section 45 (3) of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995 in the event of non-depositing the dues of property in time by the allottees, allotment could be cancelled and 10% of the total deposits be forfeited. The Estate Officers of the various Urban Development Authorities forfeited the amount which varies from 1% to 10% of the consideration money, and was not in uniformity and resulted in undue litigation. As a befitting tribute to the great martyr of Goa Liberation Movement Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru, the Cabinet also approved to undertake upgradation of road leading to Issru village, adding more rooms to the existing school and also sanctioned required money for repair of the ancestral home of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru at village Issru in district Ludhiana.
The Cabinet also gave nod to keep only 100 meter Eco Sensitive Zone for all the sanctuaries of Punjab. It may be recalled at present restrictions regarding Eco sensitive zone was up to 10 KM from boundaries of sanctuaries which results that all cases of establishment of industries, construction of roads etc. were sent to GoI for sanction. By restricting Eco Sensitive Zone up to 100 meter, cases pertaining to all departments need GoI’s sanction within this limit.The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the toll notification issued by the PWD (B&R) No. S.O. II/P.A. 13/1998/S.R. 2,3 & 4/2004 dated July 8, 2004 under provisions of the Punjab Mechanical Vehicles (Bridges & Roads Tolls) Act, 1998 regarding determining the toll rates to be levied and collection from certain users of Highways, Byepasses, Bridges and ROBs/RUBs (as constructed and operated and maintained through concessionaire). The existing toll policy (notification) was issued by the state government more than eight years back. Now, there was a dire need to issue new notification in order to ensure the best industry practices being followed by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H), GoI and various other state governments are put in place in the Punjab state also. The toll notification required a re-visit to rationalize the prevailing toll charges and also to bring it on lines with policies followed by MoRT&H and other states for ensuring effective and smooth implementation for development of toll roads projects on BOT basis.
The cabinet also approved the scheme for accelerated upgradation of state roads by raising funds to the tune of Rs. 1000 crore from financial institutions through Punjab Road and Bridges Development Board to improve the crust thickness and riding quality of the roads. The roads would be executed with long term maintenance liabilities. After completion of upgradation, the roads would be put to tolling contracts and the revenue thus received through toll system would be utilized in re-payment of loan to financial institution/banks. The cabinet also gave green signal to start Government College for Girls at Jalalabad (district Fazilka) and Government College at Amargarh (district Sangrur) from the current academic session to uplift the standard of higher education in Punjab. Both Fazilka and Sangrur were educationally backward districts with the very low gross enrollment ratio. With the opening of these colleges, the long standing demand of the residents of the areas would be fulfilled one hand and the students of SC, BC and other poor communities would get more opportunities of receiving higher education at affordable fee on the other.
The Cabinet also okayed the Punjab Agricultural (Group-A) Services Rules, 2013. It may be recalled that the Punjab Agricultural (Group-A) Service is presently governed 1975 Rules and thereafter new posts have been created in different wings of Agriculture Department and names and designated of many posts have also changed. The new rules now provide for segregation of the cadres and provide for a clear line of promotion on the basis of seniority-cum-merit.
The Cabinet also gave green signal to transfer 83 acres of land of Punjab State Industries Export Corporation (PSIEC) to the Jail department for the construction of District Jail over this land at Goindwal Sahib in Taran Tarn district. In lieu of this land, the Jail department would transfer 78 acres out of 278 acres of its land in Open Jail Nabha to the PSIEC for the construction of Industrial Focal Point. From the remaining 200 acres land the Jail department would transfer 100 acres of land to Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA).
The Cabinet also approved a rationalized induction and promotion policy for outstanding sports persons in the Police department. Any sportsperson winning Gold, Silver, Bronze medal in Asian, Commonwealth, World Cup and Olympics would be offered Class-1 post in the State Police department. Any policeman earning medals in the National Police Games or other National level Games would earn points which would enable him to earn accelerated promotion.