By Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 7
Punjab Cabinet today approved the new Excise and Taxation policy for the
year 2013-14 with an increase of Rs.610 crore over last year. The revenue
expected during 2013-14 is Rs.4020 crores as against Rs.3410 crores in the
current year.
A decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab
Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at CMO this morning.
Divulging the salient features of the new policy a spokesperson of the Chief
Minister’s Office, said that the Cabinet has decided to continue with the
existing system of allotment of liquor vends through draw of lots with an
objective to provide quality liquor to the people at affordable prices.
It may be recalled that the Punjab Government has already approved amendments
in the Punjab Excise Act to curb illegal sale and smuggling of liquor. In this
regard, the Cabinet gave nod to the amendment to Section 61 of the Punjab
Excise Act. Now, if any vehicle was detected carrying more than 10 cases of
liquor illegally, it would be confiscated and auctioned.
The policy provides for earmarking Rs.83 crores for education. Similarly,
Rs.60 crores would be allocated for development of Sports in the State in
addition to Rs 18 crore for preservation and maintenance of heritage monuments
in the State. A provision for
creating Social Security fund has been made in the Policy and approximately
Rs.10 crores would be generated for this purpose.
Taking serious cognizance of the exploitation of consumers by the licensee
the new policy has authorized Excise & Taxation Commissioner and the
Assistant Excise & Taxation Commissioners to fix rate of liquor to be
supplied at Marriage Palaces.
It has also been decided to set up Model Shops in each Zone of Corporation
City and ‘A’ class Municipalities. These model shops would be operated by the
regular L-2 licensees of the Zone. It
had been found that L-2B licensees (departmental stores) were indulging in
malpractices and were hitting at the sales of the regular licensees.
So, the L-2B license has been abolished.
The quota of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML) has been marginally increased by
5% (50 lakh proof litres) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) by 2% (10 lakh
proof litres). Keeping in mind the
customer preference, the percentage of Open Quota has been increased from 60%
to 65%.
There was a marginal increase of Rs.4/- per litre only, in incidence, on
PML and IMFL. A provision in the policy
has been made to create a level playing field by forming groups and zones of
liquor vends which were not detrimental to each other, thereby avoiding
unhealthy
competition.
The system of levying extra license fee has been made more rational and
scientific on advalorem basis. The burden of extra license fee would be less on
lower brands of liquor and more of higher brands.
In order to encourage exports from the State, permit fee of Re.1/- levied
on RS/ENA used for the manufacture of IMFL to be exported out of Punjab has
been abolished. The discrimination between distilleries and bottling plants for
manufacturing of IMFL to be sold in Punjab has been removed by levying a
uniform permit fee on both of them. In
order to encourage bottling in Punjab, the import fee on import of bottled
IMFL into Punjab has been increased from Rs.15/- per PL to Rs.25/- per PL.
The concept of Micro Breweries was introduced in 2011-12 in order to wean
away people from hard drinks. Beer
manufactured by micro breweries was being encouraged, as it was cheaper than
the normal beer. In order to encourage micro breweries, the scope and area of
the sale has been widened in this policy.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also gave approval for introducing
“Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infra Structure Fund Bill 2013”
in the coming Budget session of the state assembly. This bill aims at creating
a special fund for creation of infrastructure including machinery equipment and
provision for medicines in selected hospitals for treatment of cancer and drug-addiction in the state.
A surcharge/cess would be levied on some items, taxes, receipts and a
share from sale of Government and Semi-Government properties the money
collected from it would be deposited in this dedicated fund. A Board under the
chairmanship of the Chief Minister would be created to administer this fund.
In order to ensure more
participation of citizens in the working of all
Nagar Panchayats/ Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations in the
state, the Cabinet also gave a go ahead for enacting “The Punjab Community
Participation in Municipalities Act, 2013”. The new Act which would be
presented in the coming Budget session of State
Assembly envisages constitution of Area Sabhas and Ward Committees in all
the Municipalities thereby providing an opportunity to the citizens for
effective participation in the civic affairs.
To facilitate the NRIs in
getting their properties vacated quickly, the Cabinet also gave nod to
introduce Punjab Rent (Amendment) Bill, 2013 before the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in
the coming Budget session. The properties given on rent under an agreement from
the ate of enactment of this Bill will come under the purview of this new law.
In order to curtail expenditure
and implement the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court the Cabinet cleared
the security policy for the State under which security to the elected
representatives, officials & public men will be provided based on the
threat perceptions.
In order to establish
Mega Textile Park in Barnala district, the Cabinet also gave its nod to include
the district in the list of eligible ones for availing all the incentives
including exemption from the Electricity Tax for seven years under the Textile
Policy -2006.
The Cabinet also gave
approval in principle for enactment of Punjab Contract Farming Act, 2012 to
safeguard the rights of farmers as well as the buyers besides ensuring
marketing mechanism to boost the much needed farm diversification program in
state. The Contract Farming Act would also open several avenues for the
promotion of food processing industry in
the state. To ensure strict Implementation of the Act, Punjab Contract Farming
Commission would be set up having one Chief Commissioner and three
Commissioners to be appointed by the state government. Under the provisions of
the Act, the registration of the buyers had been made compulsory with the
competent authority prior to an agreement between the buyers and the farmers so
as to ensure that only genuine buyer or a person with valid antecedents could
enter upon such agreement. It had been clearly stipulated that the right
of ownership or possession of land on which the farming was to be done would
solely vest in the farmer and would not be a part of said agreement, in any
case.
Keeping in view the
larger public interest, the Cabinet also approved to grant ownership rights of
the land to the allottees who had migrated from Pakistan after partition and
had been shown as tenants of this land which is currently owned by the
government as per the record, in the State.
The Cabinet also gave its
nod to introduce the Prisons Punjab Amendment Bill, 2013 in the coming session
of the Vidhan Sabha by amending Prisons Act 1894 which envisages imprisonment
up to 1 year and five years for those prisoners who use mobile phone etc in or outside
the prison. Likewise the Cabinet also approved to introduce Punjab Motor
Vehicle Taxation Act (Amendment) Bill in the coming session of the state
assembly by amending Punjab Motor Vehicle Taxation Act 1924.
In order to impart
technical training to the youth of the state in an efficient manner, the
Cabinet also gave its green signal to create 39 posts of C-PYTE within six
months.
To overcome the shortage
of the PCS officers for running the administrative work efficiently, the
Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for extending the reappointment period
of 23 Retired PCS (Executive Branch) Officers on contractual basis further for
one year and that of 14 others for a period of six months.
The Cabinet also gave nod
for the creation of 4 regular posts and 24 on outsource basis for running the
newly constructed Circuit Houses at Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.
In another significant
decision the Cabinet also gave nod for amending section 3 (1) of the East
Punjab War Awards Act, 1948 thereby enhancing the annual financial assistance
(Jangi Jagir) given to the Ex-servicemen from Rs 5000 to Rs 10000.
In order to the safeguard
the dealers, supplying goods to the CSD, from the effect of double taxation,
the Cabinet also approved to amend the Punjab VAT Act by omitting entry 43 of
its schedule A.
The Cabinet also approved
to amend Punjab State Lotteries Rule 1998 thereby ensuring that the payment of
bumper prizes would be made to the prize winners without deduction of
establishment charges.
The Cabinet also gave nod
to amend rule 5 of the Punjab Motors Transport workers Rules 1963 for enhancing
the annual registration fee recovered from the transport companies registered
under the abovesaid Act.
Vide which heavy penalties ranging from Rs. 50000 to Rs. 1 lakh will be
imposed on these transport vehicles which enter the state without paying taxes.
There is a provision for imprisonment also in case of repeated offences.
In another important
decision the Cabinet also gave approval for the appointment/regularization of
the services of 12 work charger/daily wagers by creating the posts in the jail
department. These work charged employees/daily wagers have been rendering their
services from last 10 years.
The Cabinet also decided
to give teacher’s job to the wife of ASI Mr. Kulbir Singh, who was recently
found dead in village Geowala in Tarn Taran district on compassionate grounds.
The Cabinet also decided
that a suitable place will required facilities will be earmarked at each
District Head Quarters for staging rallies, dharnas, agitations etc. so that
the general public is not put to inconvenience.
The Cabinet also decided
to streamline the A.G. office for effectively following up of Government cases
pending in the High Court by deputing dedicated law officers for major
departments.
The Cabinet also directed
the Chief Secretary to take measures so that all major Municipal Corporations
become financial self sustainable. It also directed that the payment of dues by
the citizen be computerized and a facility of online payment be made available
to citizens.
The Cabinet also reviewed
the existing State of solid waste management in the cities and asked the Chief
Secretary to come up with an effective policy by June, 2013.
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