The Punjab Cabinet today approved consumer friendly Excise policy 2015-16 to fetch revenue of Rs.5040 crores during 2015-16, as against revenue of Rs.4680 crores during the current year, registering an increase of Rs.360 crores.A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal in its meeting held here at the CMO, this morning.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that though there was an increase in revenue, the minimum retail prices of Punjab Medium Liquor and Indian Made Foreign Liquor have been kept at same level as the current year. The basic thrust of the policy was to provide good quality liquor at affordable prices to the consumers. The prices of country liquor, which was consumed by common man, would be brought down from the current level. This would be ensured by a Price Control Cell in the Department. This time, the department was also introducing country liquor of 75 degree strength keeping in view the demand for this dispensation from the consumers. The quota of country liquor was pegged at 9.80 crore proof litres as against 9.50 crore proof litres during the current year. The quota of IMFL was retained at the existing level of 4.5 crore proof litres.
This year, canned beer (both light and strong) was going to be made available at the duty of light beer. This measure has been introduced with the intention of weaning away people from hard drinking.Keeping in view the prevailing scenario, the maximum retail prices of liquor to be served in the marriage palaces for various functions, have been fixed and would be displayed conspicuously on the website of the Department and the same would be made available by the offices of the Department at the time of issuing permits.The liquor served in the functions at marriage palaces would be made available at lesser prices. Now people could buy liquor from any vend in the relevant circle. There should not be any checking during the functions barring in exceptional circumstances.
This year, the number of vends have not been increased and have been kept at 6464 liquor vends.The Cabinet also approved the Second Punjab Rural Water & Sanitation Sector Improvement Project of Rs.2200 Crore to be funded by the World Bank. The Project was aimed at ensuring higher service level of drinking water supply and sanitation, effective operation and maintenance of rural drinking water supply schemes and construction of toilets in all villages making Punjab free from open defecation. The project also envisages setting up water treatment facilities in villages where the water was found to be contaminated. There was also a proposal to shift source of drinking water supply from ground water to surface water in some select villages under this ambitious project. Special provision of Rs.171 crore has also been made for rejuvenation of water supply and sewerage schemes in water logged areas of States. The said project would be implemented in six years from 2015 to 2021.In another significant step aimed at creating a pool of trained manpower in civil aviation sector, the Punjab Cabinet today decided to constitute Punjab State Civil Aviation Council (PSCAC). The newly constituted PSCAC would coordinate and expand civil aviation training with optimum utilisation of existing resources, augmenting infra structure and acquiring new equipment. This initiative would not only improve the standard of training in civil aviation related fields but would also help the youth from state to have an access to cost effective training.
In a move aimed at ensuring uniformity in the Board of Governors of the IK Gujral Punjab Technical University Jalandhar and Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University, Bathinda, the Cabinet gave a go ahead for making amendments in the Punjab Technical University Act 1996. This amendment would give more powers to the state to give necessary directions to the PTU and the Chief Secretary would be the Chairman of the Board of Governors.In order to facilitate the people by resolution of problems faced by them, the Cabinet also gave green signal for amending the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 thereby giving certain exemptions in the larger public interests. This decision would ensure easy availability of earth to the Ghumiars for carrying out their traditional work besides allowing the farmers to level their agricultural fields and sell the extra minor mineral coming out of such activity. Likewise, the land owners have been allowed to remove any minor mineral from their land for meeting personal land filling requirements or bonafide personal requirements including religious activities. This significant decision would help the state government in keeping the price of sand/ gravel at reasonable level to help the public in their traditional and economic activities.
Likewise, the Cabinet also gave its concurrence for another amendment in the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 that would help the Industries Department to operate the quarries through Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation for checking the prices of sand/ gravel in the state.
In compliance to the orders of Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court the Cabinet also gave nod for amending the Guidelines for Registration and Working of Stone Crushers in the state of Punjab 2012.The Cabinet also approved amendment in the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act 1961 which stipulates the enhancement of the period of supersession of the Market Committees to enable the administrators to perform the duties/ work of the Market Committees in an effective manner.The Cabinet also approved the construction of new Jail at Sri Goindwal Sahib under the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) Scheme and the entire expenditure on its construction would be met by PUDA under the OUVGL.The Cabinet also gave approval to withdraw ‘The Prisons (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2011’ as the state government has already approved ‘The Prisons (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2013’ which has already been converted into Act with the approval of Vidhan Sabha.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Sub Section ‘b’ of Section 7 of the Punjab Ancient, Historical Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Cultural Heritage Maintenance Board Act 2013, for the repayment of loans already taken or to be taken in future. The newly inserted Sub Clause (b) stipulates ‘for the construction/creation of the buildings of State/National importance and repayment of loans raised for construction/creation of the buildings of State/National importance’.The Cabinet also approved the Punjab Horticulture (Group-A) Service Rules, 2015. The Punjab Horticulture (Class-1) Service was presently governed by 1990 and 1974 Rules and thereafter new posts have been created and designation of many posts has 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.Under the Punjab Private Universities Policy-2010, the Cabinet also approved the bills for setting up of two self-financed universities viz. Surya World University at Bapror in Patiala district and Akal University, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district to impart quality higher education.
In a bid to make the lotteries in the state more effective to increase the Revenue of the state, the Cabinet also gave green signal for framing the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015. The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for the creation of posts of fifth Punjab Finance Commission, which has been constituted to make specific recommendations for distribution of taxes, duties, Road tax and others amongst the Panchayats/ Municipalities and the state besides making further recommendations for the improvement of fiscal health of these civic bodies. The Cabinet also discussed the crisis being faced by the sugar mills in the state due to steep fall in the wholesale prices of the sugar in the market. The Cabinet thus decided to set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to recommend measures to cope up with this prevalent crisis.