New Update
Chandigarh, (PTI) The Punjab Cabinet today approved a
policy to allow conversion of industrial plots for residential and
commercial use.
The new policy has been approved to check the practice of illegal
conversion of industrial plots in industrial focal points/industrial
estates to non-industrial purposes, which were blatantly flouting
the stipulated norms of parking and public safety for building construction,
a release said.
The new policy envisages conversion of industrial plots falling
in Industrial Focal Points/Industrial Estates set up by the government
or any of its agencies to hotels and hospitals, group housing, residential,
institutional and commercial uses, it said.
An official spokesperson said that this policy would be instrumental
to prevent unauthorised conversion in these areas besides ensuring
redevelopment of Industrial Focal Points/Industrial Estates according
to the present day needs.
There would be a condition of 100 meters distance from Red category
Industries.
Conversion charges in terms of 25 per cent of collector rate
for residential use minus collector for Industries use whichever
is more would be applicable in case of hotels and hospitals.
Likewise, in case of residential flats, collector rate of residential
use minus collector rate of Industrial use would be applicable.
It may be recalled that over a period of time with the expansion
of urban areas, the present location of these Industrial Focal Points/Industrial
Urban Estates having densely populated areas around them has become
unsuitable from traffic and environment point of view.
Further, increased land prices of urban properties have lured
a number of plot owners to convert their industrial plots to non-industrial
uses illegally thereby blatantly ignoring public safety norms.
The Cabinet also approved recommending to the Punjab Governor
for summoning of the 13th session of 14th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from
September 5 to 9.
In a relief to the people across the state, the Cabinet also
approved to provide 50 per cent exemption of Stamp Duty on execution
of conveyance deeds in respect of affordable houses and similarly
20 per cent exemption on new flats.
At present, 5 per cent Stamp Duty is being charged on the conveyance
Deeds under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.
The Cabinet also gave nod to float tenders for next phase of
Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana from November 1, 2016 to October
31, 2017, as the said scheme started in November 2015 was completing
its term on October 31, 2016.
In the extended policy, around 12.50 lakh more beneficiaries
were expected to be added and around 40 lakh beneficiaries families
would be benefitted under the extended scheme from November 1, 2016
In a bid to promote industrialization in the state, the
Cabinet also gave approval to the proposal of supplying electricity
to small power industrial consumers at concessional tariff of Rs
4.99 paise per unit during 2016-17.
The Cabinet also accorded approval to pay subsidy of Rs 29.97
crore to Punjab State Power Corporation for 2016-17.
The Cabinet also approved to provide 200 free units of electricity
to the domestic consumers belonging to backward classes on the pattern
of SC consumers.
The Cabinet also approved to extend the period of implementation
of One Time Settlement (OTS) Policy for Loans & Equity- PSIDC, PFC,
PAIC and its Subsidiary Companies- 2015 from May 31, 2016 to December
31, 2016 so that these Corporations could recover more amounts from
their defaulting loanee companies as these companies have received
good response from the industry under OTS Policy.
In another consumer friendly decision, the Cabinet had decided
to exempt turmeric from VAT and reduce the rate of tax on 'Jeera',
'Dhania', 'Ajwain' and 'Kali Mirch' from 6.87 percent to 4.4 per
cent. This decision would entail a forgo of revenue to the tune of
nearly Rs 35 to 45 crore annually.
The Cabinet also accorded ex-post facto approval for the revised
quota of Punjab Medium Liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor & Beer
and estimated revenue to be accrued during 2016-17.
This time the motive of the state government was to break the
monopoly and provide liquor at affordable rates to the consumers.
With this motive in mind, the allotment of liquor vends was
made in small groups. Due to these smaller groups, some of the licensees
did not participate actively in the allotment process.
Henceforth, in the first and second allotment process, some
groups in Bathinda, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Ferozepur, Fazilka
and Moga remained un-allotted.
Therefore, in the revenue interest of the state, these un-allotted
groups of vends were allotted through tender process, by reducing
the reserve price after taking the approval of the competent authority.-