Empowered
Committee Approves a standard package of incentives
and conditions For Super Mega Projects
CHANDIGARH February 27, 2008
In a significant move to boost Urbanization and Industrialization
in the state, the Punjab Government's Empowered Committee on mega
projects under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash
Singh Badal here today approved a standard package of incentives
and conditions for Large Scale Super Mega Mixed Use Integrated
Industrial Park Projects.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government
said that this would bring an organized urban growth in the state
followed by a massive expansion of Industrial sector. This package
would make available industrial spaces for knowledge Industries
such as I.T & Biotechnology and will attract large Investments
through planned development of urban areas. These Large Scale
Super Mega Mixed Use Integrated Industrial Township Projects have
been categorized into 'A', 'B' and 'C' Categories with 750 acres
or more, 500 acres or more and 250 acres or more of land respectively.
The projects have been granted exemption from stamp duty and registration
charges on first sale / lease of developed area and build up spaces,
exemption from change of land use charges on industrial component
of the project and reduction in External Development Charges and
License Fee on all components of project. Further, reduction in
Change of Land Use Charges on residential and commercial components
of project has also been granted.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Local Govt. & Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Finance
Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Chief Secretary RI Singh, Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Secretary Finance
DS Kalha, Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce A.R. Talwar,
Secretary Housing & Urban Development Arun Goel, MD PIDB S.S.
Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gagandeep
Singh Brar, Director Industries V.K. Janjua, and Additional Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister Ajay Mahajan.
CAPT. KANWALJIT SINGH THANKS PEOPLE OF
PUNJAB
FOR MASSIVE PARTICIPATION IN INSAAF RALLY
Chandigarh, February 27, 2008
Punjab Cooperation Minister and SAD General Secretary Capt.
Kanwaljit Singh today profusely thanked the people of Punjab who
converged in large number to national capital to participate in
historic 'Insaaf Rally' jointly organised by SAD-BJP combine and
making it a grand success.
In a press statement, Capt. Singh described the 'mega rally'
as an eye opener for congress led UPA government in the Centre
and pointed out that even now if the Centre Government continues
to ignore the genuine and rightful demands of the Punjab especially
of its peasantry, then yesterday's historic and unprecedented
turnout would play a significant role in dethroning the UPA government
in coming general elections.
Capt. Singh revealed that not only the farmer but also the Industrialists
of the state were also the victim of Centre's vote politics. On
one hand the state was instrumental in making country as self
reliant in food production on the other the farmers were not getting
remunerative prices for their produce. The industry in the neighbouring
states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand
were entitled to 10 years' tax holiday which had badly hit the
state's industry and ultimately led to its flight to these states,
thereby bringing our economy at the brink of disaster.
PUNJAB CABINET APPROVES EXCISE POLICY 2008-09
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 27:
The State Cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship
of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved
the Excise Policy for the year 2008-09 with a view to generate
total revenue of Rs.1728 crores (approx), an increase of Rs.72
crores over the last year.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government
said that the Licensing Units would be allotted by draw of lots
on fixed fee as done in 2007-08 and the entire process of draw
of lots would be supervised by the Deputy Commissioners of the
concerned district and senior officers of the Excise & Taxation
Department. The Cabinet also approved to increase the quota of
PML by 3% over the last year and there would be no increase in
quota of IMFL. With this, the quota for the year 2008-09 would
be 618 lakh PL for PML and 325 lakh PLs for IMFL. The Minimum
Retail Price on PML would be increased by Rs.5/- and IMFL by Rs.10/-
per bottle over the last year.
The spokesman further said that no maximum retail price of IMFL
was fixed for the year 2007-08. The Cabinet decided that now the
maximum sale price (brand-wise) of IMFL and would be fixed by
the ETC both at L-1 and L-2 stages. The area-wise classification
proposed for the year 2008-09. The rate of VAT on molasses would
be decreased from 22% to 4% and rate of VAT on liquor would be
increased from 4% to 12.5%.
The Cabinet also approved the revival and filling up of 13998
vacancies of school teachers on contract basis. Out of these,
9998 and 4000 teachers would be appointed in the primary and secondary
education cadres respectively.
The Cabinet also approved in principle to establish Sri Guru
Granth Sahib World University sponsored by Sri Guru Granth Sahib
4th Centenary Memorial Trust through introducing "The Sri
Guru Granth Sahib World University" Bill, 2008 in the Punjab
Vidhan Sabha for enactment. The said trust would be established
under the Indian Trust Act, as a constituent unit of Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
The Cabinet also decided to introduce the Punjab Compulsory Registration
of Marriages Bill, 2008 in the forthcoming session of Punjab Vidhan
Sabha for enactment. Likewise it was also decided to convert the
Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 into an Act
through the presentation of Bill in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab School Education
Board Act, 1969.
The Cabinet also gave a go ahead for the enhancement of limit
of disbursement of "discretionary grants" for development
purposes by the Chief Minister, Ministers and Chief Parliamentary
Secretaries from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.10 on one occasion for single
purpose.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of Punjab State Relief
Fund. The collection would be primarily used to pay the premium
on insurance for the poor, needy and destitute.
The Cabinet also approved to raise the borrowing limit of the
Punjab state Electricity Board from Rs.11000 crore to Rs.15000
crore to meet with the crash crunch position.
The Cabinet also approved the constitution of Educational Tribunal
covering all aided and un-aided Educational Institutions in the
state of Punjab. The additional Deputy Commissioner General at
the district level be vested with the powers of the Tribunal for
hearing the appeals at the district level within their respective
districts.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of the Punjab State Development
& Welfare Fund for the smooth flow of funds for the activities
in the field of education, health and social welfare. The corpus
of the fund would consist of 5% of the total amount realized from
the bidder by way of sale proceeds of all immoveable properties
auctioned by the agencies after 1.4.2007 such as Urban Development
Authorities, Punjab State Industries Export Corporation, department
of Colonization and any other government instrumentality as may
be specified by government.
The Cabinet also gave approval regarding amendment in Punjab
Value Added Tax Act, 2005- provisions for VAT at source on Petroleum
products. It may be mentioned that with this amendment the state
would be able to collect full VAT through the Oil Companies instead
of collecting a small portion of it (VAT) from a large number
of Petroleum Dealers. This new system would also generate Rs.
20 crore per annum without any enhancement of VAT just by reducing
the extra workload on the department.
The Cabinet approved lumpsum levy of tax on Brick kiln owners
alongwith the levy of VAT on Tobacco and abolition of Form-D.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for the amendment in Punjab
Value Added Tax Act, 2005 regarding Deemed assessment scheme for
cases. The Cabinet also gave approval regarding amendment in section
19 of the Punjab VAT Act, 2005-Input Tax Credit on Schedule 'H'
goods.
The Cabinet also approved the acquisition of 120 Acre 3 Kanal
16 Marla land for Wagah (now Attari) Border for setting up integrated
check post as demanded by GoI in view of the increasing trade
between India and Pakistan.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Substitute Teachers
in Punjab Information Communication Technology Education society
(PICTES). The Cabinet also approved the filling up of 19 vacant
posts against 29 sanctioned posts of Analyst in the Health and
Family Welfare Department by direct recruitment in Food, drugs
and Excise laboratories in the state.
The Cabinet also approved the annual reports of the Department
of Hospitality for the year 2006-07, Department of Employment
for the year 2002, 2003 & 2004 and Department of Jails for
the year 2001-02.
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Science and Technology Minister, Punjab
will inaugurate eight cogeneration projects with combined generation
capacity of 100MW tomorrow i.e. 28 February 2008 at 11:00 AM at
Punjab Development Agency Solar Passive Complex (PEDA Bhawan)
Sector-33D, Chandigarh.
Sukhbir Singh
NEW DELHI FEB 27, 2008
The Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr.Sukhbir Singh
Badal declared the parliament will not be allowed to function
till the demand of loan
Waver of poor farmer of Punjab is not excepted by the Centre
Govt.
In a statement released to the press Mr.Badal said that his
party
Strongly committed to the cause of farmers community. He said
that the farmers in
the whole country and specially of Punjab are committing suicide
but still govt. of
India is delaying the acceptance of its legitimate demand.
It may be mention here that all members of the S.A.D. including
S.A.D. Chief Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal, leader of the Parliamentary
party
Mr.S.S.Dhindsa all other members of Parliament of S.A.D. installed
the proceeding
of the above said issue.
RALLY SIGNALS COUNTDOWN TIME UPA GOVERNMENT
–MAJITHIA
Chandigarh February 27, 2008
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Information & Public Relations
Minister today said that thunderous response of people of Punjab
in Insaaf Rally was indicative of the fact that countdown has
begin for Congress led and Left supported UPA Government at the
Centre.
Thanking the people of Amritsar for braving the chill and rough
weather by spending night on the roads of New Delhi to participate
in Rally Mr. Majithia said that a sea of humanity present in the
Insaaf Rally gave a clear warning to the fascist Union Government
to desist from discriminatory Anti-farmer and Anti-Punjab polices.
He said that in one of the biggest rally in the history of New
Delhi, people of Punjab have warned the Union Government to desist
from interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs by creating
state wise SGPCs.
Mr. Majithia said that the Insaaf Rally was reminiscent of student
rally organized by Mr. Jai Prakash Narain against Emergency at
Patna that proved death knell for the Indira Gandhi at that time.
He said that enthusiastic response in the rally was reflection
of anger of people against anti people polices of UPA government
who are itching to overthrow this government at earliest possible
opportunity.