Punjab Cabinet on Thursday declared the activity ofexcavation of brick earth/ordinary earth from area upto 2 acres and depth upto3 feet as non mining activity.
A decision to this effect was taken during a Cabinetmeeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi here at Punjab Bhawanthis afternoon.
According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’sOffice, the Brick Kiln Owners shall apply for license as per Form ‘A’ andobtain the license in Form ‘B’ for this purpose. Whereas, the excavation isdone beyond above specified limits, the case would be dealt with the prescribedPunjab Minor Mineral Rules (PMMR), 2013 as well as prevailing guidelines. This willease the process to operationalize the brick kilns besides ensuring theuninterrupted supply of bricks to the consumers at affordable price.
Notably, the various representations have been receivedfrom the Brick Kiln Owners of Punjab for declaring the excavation of BrickEarth as Non Mining activity. The Brick Kiln Owners in the representations havehighlighted the field problems i.e., obtaining Environment Clearance is atime-consuming process, land owners do not allow their land for excavation ofearth from their fields for long term as they have to sow the crops in thefields and the work of brick Kiln is operative for six months only during theyear.
DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY CONSUMER TO GET BENEFIT OF REDUCEDTARIFF FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2021
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also decidedto give huge relief to the domestic electricity consumers having sanctionedload upto 7 KW by reducing electricity tariff rates by Rs.3 per unit w.e.f.November 1, 2021 instead of earlier December 1, 2021. This decision wouldinvolve annual financial burden of Rs. 151 crore on the state exchequer thusbenefitting nearly 69 lakh out of 71.75 lakh domestic consumers with thereduced tariff.
GIVES GO AHEAD TO TAKE OVER GOVT. AIDED PUBLIC HIGHSCHOOL KUKARPIND (JALANDHAR)
Acceding to the consent of the management of theGovernment Aided Private School, Public High School Kukarpind in Jalandhardistrict, the Cabinet has given a go ahead to take over the School by the StateGovernment in the public interest along with all the assets. The sole employeewho is working against an aided post in the School will be regularized in theSchool Education department against a vacant post.
OKAYS TAKEOVER OF JANTA HIGH SCHOOL, PHULDIWAL(JALANDHAR) BY SCHOOL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
In view of the difficulties faced by the students anddemand of the local people, the Cabinet also decided to take over Janta HighSchool, Phuldiwal in Jalandhar district (Private School affiliated to PSEB)which had remained closed since year 2008. Resultantly, the students of theregion have been facing various hardships as there is no Government School inthe vicinity of this School, which is currently under the control of VillagePanchayat Phuldiwal. The said schools would be taken over by School Educationdepartment along with all the assets from the Gram Panchayat to make itfunctional up to the High Level.
CABINET ALLOWS REGULARIZATION OF STANDALONE BUILDINGS ON"AS IS WHERE IS BASIS" BY TAKING REGULARIZATION FEE
The Cabinet also decided to facilitate regularization ofstandalone buildings i.e. Educational, Medical, Commercial, Farm Houses,Religious, Social, Charitable Institute which were constructed without theprior permission of Housing & Urban Development department outsideMunicipal Limits, Urban Estates and Industrial Focal Points on "as iswhere is basis" by taking regularization fee. The applications can besubmitted for the said purpose till December 31, 2022 by paying the requisitefee which has been now reduced drastically.
APPROVES CREATION OF 76 NEW POSTS OF DIFFERENT CADRES FORNEWLY CONSTRUCTED HOSPITAL AT VILLAGE JHORDA IN LUDHIANA AND UPGRADED SUBDIVISIONAL HOSPITAL AT SRI CHAMKAUR SAHIB AND SBS NAGAR
In order to ensure quality healthcare services to thepeople of the State, the Punjab Cabinet also approved the creation of 76 newposts of various cadres for the 25 bedded hospital built in the name of thelegendary martyr Shaheed Havaildar Ishar Singh (Saragarhi Post Commander) atVillage Jhorda in Ludhiana district besides Sub-Divisional Hospital SriChamkaur Sahib in Roopnagar district and Community Health Centre Banga inShaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district to Sub Divisional Hospital.
APPROVES ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF INDUSTRIES& COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FOR 2018-19