Chandgarh: The cabinet today approved the introduction of the draft Punjab excise Act, 1914 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 allowing the sale of liquor through licensed vends within the limits of Municipal areas and checking smuggling of distilled spirits.

The bill with amendment to sections 26-A, 72, 78 and 81 of the Punjab excise Act will be introduced for legislation in the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha commencing from November 27, an official release said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here. An amendment to Section 26-A has been approved in view of the July 11, 2017 judgment of the Supreme Court, the release said.

It provides that the condition of sale of liquor through licensed vends at a distance of 500 meters away from national/ state highways would not apply to the licensed liquor vends within the limits of Municipal area, the release said.

With amendments to Sections 72, 78 and 81, smuggling of liquor in the state would be controlled as bringing foreign distilled spirit into Punjab in quantities exceeding twelve bottles of 750 millimeters capacity each would now be a non- bailable offence, the release said.

Vehicles carrying more than three cases of liquor would be confiscated and would be released during trial only against cash or bank guarantee equivalent to the value of liquor confiscated, the release said.

In another decision, the cabinet agreed to bring a Bill in the forthcoming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha to amend Section 3(8) of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1972, to exclude banana, guava trees and vineyard lands from the definition of orchard.

With this the base of agricultural production of the state can be diversified from the monoculture of wheat and paddy towards fruits and vegetables, the release said.

This amendment would provide a legal right to a farmer or tenant carrying guava, banana and vineyard farming to keep up to 20.5 hectares of land, the release said.

The cabinet also decided to amend Section 27(j) of the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972 to ensure that agricultural land which has been utilized for non-agricultural purposes, such as housing, industrial, infrastructure projects like SEZ, tourism units (hotels and resorts), public utilities, warehousing, sports, religious are kept out of the purview of this Act.