CABINET APPROVES NEW MARRIAGE PALACE POLICY FOR REGULARIZATION OF UNAUTHORIZED MARRIAGE PALACES The Punjab Council of Ministers (CoM) has in-principle decided to lower/rationalise circle/collectorate rates, while reducing stamp duty on registration of property in urban areas, in order to give an impetus to the real estate sector in the state.
CABINET APPROVES NEW MARRIAGE PALACE POLICY FOR REGULARIZATION OF UNAUTHORIZED MARRIAGE PALACES
The Punjab Council of Ministers (CoM) has in-principle decided to lower/rationalise circle/collectorate rates, while reducing stamp duty on registration of property in urban areas, in order to give an impetus to the real estate sector in the state.
Chairing a CoM meeting here, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh directed a formal proposal on reduction in circle/collectorate rates to be presented in the next cabinet meeting, with the DCs to be instructed to formulate the new circle rates. Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said he was already working on the proposal and would present in the next meeting for consideration.
To boost the languishing real estate sector in the state, the cabinet on Friday also gave approval to reduction in stamp duty on the registration of property in urban areas from 9% to 6% till March 31, 2018.
CABINET GIVES NOD FOR 'PUNJAB STATE COUNCIL FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION' & 'PUNJAB STATE FARMERS AND FARM LABOURERS COMMISSION ACT-2017'
The Captain Amarinder led government has decided to enact the "Punjab State Farmers Commission Act-2017" to empower and safeguard the interests of the farming community, besides setting up a 'Punjab State Council for Agricultural Education' to promote agricultural education in the state.
These were among the slew of important decisions taken here on Friday by the Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
An official spokesperson disclosed after the meeting that the proposed Council would be set up by bringing an Ordinance - Punjab State Council for Agricultural Education Ordinance 2017, and would be aimed at promoting and coordinating agricultural education in various colleges and institutes in the state. It would be entrusted with the task of developing guidelines and regulating higher agricultural education in the state through grant of recognition to colleges/institutions/departments that meet the norms and standards prescribed to run educational degree programmes in agriculture. Once granted recognition, the recognized colleges/institutions/departments shall automatically follow the prescribed system of education in governance including infrastructure (class rooms, laboratories, equipment, instructional farms, etc.), procedure of admission, recruitment of staff, resident instruction, course curricula, pattern of examination, etc. as may be directed by the Council from time to time.
CABINET MANDATES PUNJAB MLAs & MPs TO DECLARE IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES ON JAN 1 EVERY YEAR, DECLARATIONS FOR CURRENT YEAR TO BE FILED BY SEPT 30
In a major step aimed at bringing total transparency in governance, the Punjab Council of Ministers, headed by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Friday decided to make it mandatory for all members of Legislative Assembly and Parliament from Punjab to declare their immovable properties on January 1 every year, with the exception of the current year, when the declarations are required to be filed by September 30.
This decision was taken at the meeting of Council of Ministers chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh here at CMO on Friday.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the CoM gave approval to amend 'The Punjab Legislative Assembly (Salaries and Allowance of Member) Act, 1942' to make it mandatory for all MLAs and MPs from Punjab to declare their immovable properties immediately after the said amendment for the year 2017-18.
CABINET OKAYS OTS FOR REGULARIZING UNAUTHORIZED WATER & SEWERAGE CONNECTIONS AND RECOVERY OF WATER & SEWERAGE CHARGES IN ULBs
The Council of Ministers has approved a 'One Time Settlement' scheme for regularizing unauthorized water and sewerage connections and recovery of arrears of water and sewerage charges, besides settling pending dues of house/property tax for urban local bodies in the state.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said the CoM okayed a proposal moved by the Local Government department during its meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
The spokesperson said under this scheme, it was proposed that the defaulters would be given a three month window from the date of notification of the scheme to deposit their dues with a rebate of 10 percent. These defaulters can also deposit their dues with normal interest during the subsequent three months. The department will initiate action against those who do not settle their dues even within six months of the OTS notification. The action would include disconnection and recovery of arrears with interest and penalty.
Likewise, the department has also initiated OTS for regularization of unauthorized water and sewerage connection at concessional penalty and rates. It is estimated that there are about 15 to 20% of unauthorized water connections in all municipal towns of the state.
