In a bid to provide a major relief to the residentsacross all the villages, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday decided to provide freepower to all Rural Water Supply (RWS) schemes w.e.f. October 1, 2021.
This decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chairedby Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi here at CMO this morning.
According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister'sOffice, this decision would entail an annual expenditure of Rs.440 crore on thestate exchequer. Likewise, the Cabinet also gave nod to reduce the servicecharges on all RWS schemes by 70% from Rs.166 to Rs. 50 per household per monthin the villages.
It was also decided in the meeting to provide fundsthrough budgetary support/grant to settle outstanding arrears of Rs. 1168 croreof power bills of RWS schemes.
Extending a major relief to the people residing in urbanareas, the Cabinet also decided to reduce water usage charges to Rs.50 permonth for domestic connections of all categories having plot size above 125 Sq.yards in Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Corporations.Notably, plots upto 125 Sq. yards in urban areas have already been exemptedfrom paying water and sewerage user charges. Both these concessions wouldbenefit nearly 25 lac families living in urban areas.
Further, the Cabinet also decided to waive off all theoutstanding arrears of water supply and sewerage charges for domesticconnections. This decision is likely to cost the state exchequer to the tune ofnearly Rs.700 crore.
GO AHEAD TO RECRUIT GROUP-D EMPLOYEES ON REGULAR BASIS
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also gave ago ahead to recruit the Group-D employees on regular basis thus fulfillingtheir long pending demand to instill a sense of job security.
NOD TO SEND RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNOR FOR APPOINTMENTOF CHAIRMAN PPSC
The Cabinet also gave approval to send therecommendations for appointment of Mr. Jagbans Singh as new Chairman of thePunjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).