CHIEF MINISTER OFFICE PUNJAB

CHIEF MINISTER OFFICE PUNJAB

PUNJAB CABINET APPROVES SUMMONING OF 6TH SESSION OF VIDHAN SABHA FROM FEBRUARY 27
CABINET GIVES NOD TO STATE ECO-TOURISM POLICY

CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 3:
The Punjab government today approved the summoning of the 6th Session of 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from February 27.
A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab bhawan.
Giving the details of the meeting, Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the Session would begin with Governor's address on February 27.
The Cabinet also approved the formulation of Eco Tourism Policy as one of the major thrust areas for the promotion of tourism in Punjab as identified by the United Nation World Tourism Organization. The Department of Tourism had taken the initiative to frame the eco-tourism policy based on the inputs of Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, as the State had tremendous potential to become a premier eco-destination.
In another significant decision, the Council of Ministers approved the restructuring of Directorate of Youth Services to harness the energy of youth on creative and constructive lines. To achieve this objective, the posts of Director, Deputy Director and State Liaison Officer in the Youth Services Department had been revived by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet also approved to levy Value Added Tax (VAT) @ 4% on mosquito repellants, toilet cleaners, wood preservatives, chemicals for killing domestic insects, termicides, phenyle and similar other products which are not used for agriculture purpose. This decision would enable the government to earn revenue of Rs. 10 crore annually.
The Cabinet also approved the disposal of 17053 acre of pond area land acquired by the irrigation department, land falling between international border and barbed wire and land falling between barbed wire and Hussainiwala Head Works to be allotted to its unauthorized occupants on the basis of possession at the rate of Rs.25000, Rs.75000 and Rs.150000 per acre in the districts of Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of PCS (Executive branch) and Allied Services posts to be filled by Punjab Public Service Commission.
The Cabinet also approved Socio-Economic Criteria for identification of Socially Advanced Persons (Creamy Layer) from the Backward Classes in the State for their exclusion from the benefits of reservation meant for these classes in the State Services/Posts on the pattern of Government of India. The rule of exclusion would apply to the sons and daughters of persons having gross annual income of Rs. 4.5 lakh or above or possessing wealth above the exemption limit as prescribed in the Wealth Tax Act for the period of three consecutive years.
The Cabinet also approved the enhancement of amount to Inter-Caste married couple from Rs. 25,000/- to 50,000/- under the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 in order to eradicate untouchability from its grass root level in the society.
The Council of Ministers also gave approval to include Circle Style Kabbadi, a famous game of Punjab - an event similar to the National Kabbadi game to be included in the Sports Gradation Policy.
The Cabinet also approved the inclusion of 22 villages of Sub-Division/Tehsil of Nangal into Sub Division/Tehsil of Sri Anandpur Sahib in district Roop Nagar.

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No.CMO-09/39