Chandigarh July 29:
The Punjab Cabinet today approved a procedure for giving credit to the promoters of mega projects in the External Development Charges (EDC).
A decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here. A spokesman of the Punjab government said the procedure had been rationalised in view of the request made by Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India and National Real Estate Development Council to the Chief Minister for reduction in government charges.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for amending the instructions regarding grant of relief for crop loss to the affected farmers due to incessant and torrential rain of Monsoon 2010 from July 3 to July 7. It was mandatory to amend these instructions in view of the loss caused to a farmer, which varied from Rs 13000 to Rs 28000 per acre.
According to the amended instructions, relief on account of damage to crop was Rs 5000 per acre where the loss exceeds 75 per cent Rs 3000 per acre where the loss exceeds 50 per cent but does not exceed 75 per cent and Rs.2000 per acre where the loss exceeds 25pc but does not exceed 50 per cent. The relief would be provided irrespective of the maturity stage of the crop and whether the area can be re-sown or not and the same would be extended to all farmers without any condition of small and marginal farmers. The upper area limit would also not be applicable on this relief.
The Cabinet also gave approval for filling of 1970 posts, including 749 posts abolished earlier. The Cabinet approved the amendment of Punjab VAT Act, 2005 to add section 8(4) after section 8(3) on the pattern of Andhra VAT Act. The Cabinet also approved to reduce the rate of entertainment duty from 125 per cent to 25 per cent with effect from April 1, 2010.
The Cabinet also gave approval to revive and fill 25 posts of Specialists (Veterinary Officers) for new Polyclinics and asked the department to fill the remaining posts of Veterinary Officers in the Veterinary Polyclinics by making internal arrangement by shifting from other institutions to make functional both new and old polyclinics. The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for the creation of posts for the Fishery College and Dairy Science College to be established at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana.
The Cabinet also decided to enhance the daily diet money for the trainees undergoing pre-recruitment training courses at Vocational Training Centres of the Defence Services Welfare department from Rs 45 to Rs 60 daily. The Cabinet gave approval for conversion of the Punjab Value Added Tax (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 (Punjab Ordinance No 5 of 2010) into Act through presentation of a Bill in the coming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.