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Chandigarh, October 13 (IANS) The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Monday approved increasing the crop loss compensation to farmers to Rs 20,000 per acre.
A decision to this effect was taken in the Council of Ministers meeting here. A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that in order to provide adequate relief to the persons affected by crop damage and house damage due to natural calamities, the Cabinet has given retrospective approval regarding revision in the rates of relief amount to be paid from the state budget.
As the state faced severe floods, the relief amount has been increased to Rs 10,000 per acre for 26-75 per cent crop loss, Rs 20,000 per acre for 76-100 per cent crop loss and Rs 40,000 per unit for partially damaged houses from the existing Rs 6,500.
Since the amount provided by the Government of India from SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) will not be increased, this additional compensation will be provided by the State Government from its treasury.
To support the functioning of interstate check posts, the Cabinet approved to amend the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules, 2013 to levy duty on vehicles carrying processed or unprocessed minor minerals entering the state.
“This will help in meeting the operational costs incurred by the department at inter-state check posts. It will also help in making the system of these check posts more robust and efficient, thereby helping in their maintenance and upkeep,” the spokesperson said.
The Cabinet also agreed to amend the policy of determining the reserve price of plots to simplify and facilitate the process of determining the reserve price of various sites of development authorities.
As per the amendment in the prevailing e-auction policy, the reserve price of the site will be decided as per the valuation of three independent valuers empaneled with nationalized banks.
The reserve price once set for the auction will remain valid for the calendar year. The Cabinet also approved the policy of allotment of sites to cooperative societies for construction of multi-storey flats under the Group Housing Scheme-2025.
The objective of this policy is to promote the supply of affordable and planned housing in urban areas by facilitating cooperative housing societies. It provides a transparent, fair and structured framework for land allocation, ensuring timely construction and development in line with the urban planning goals of the state.
In view of the difficulties faced by the promoters and to provide relief to the public, the Cabinet approved a policy for completion of mega housing projects falling under the jurisdiction of various development authorities.
Extension of the implementation period for development and completion of already approved projects will be allowed only once from December 31 for a maximum period of five years at the rate of Rs 25,000 per acre per annum on the request of the promoter.
Payment for extension of implementation period will be deposited in advance, and no extension in implementation period will be admissible thereafter.
–IANS
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