Punjab Cabinet okays Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project

| | Chandigarh
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Punjab Cabinet okays Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project

Friday, 21 September 2018 | PNS | Chandigarh

To boost tourism and facilitate lakhs of pilgrims, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved the setting up of a ropeway project between Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh.

Besides, the Cabinet also ratified the Shahpur Kandi Dam project agreement with Jammu and Kashmir government, reviewed paddy procurement arrangements, besides approving the transfer of final land for Bathinda AIIMS project.

Led by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the Cabinet has given its approval for setting up the ropeway between two shrines in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

“The ropeway would facilitate lakhs of devotees visiting these two historic and religious sites in a smooth and hassle-free manner,” said an official spokesperson, pointing out that Sri Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi were famous pilgrim destinations visited by devotees from across the globe.

The two shrines were located quite far from each other, with hilly terrain compounding the problems of the devotees, the Cabinet noted. The Punjab Government, with the consent of Himachal Pradesh, had thus decided to set up the Ropeway project to ease the travel of visitors, said the spokesperson.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to set up the ropeway between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi on July 26, 2012. For the same, the Punjab Tourism Department had acquired 108 Kanal 13 Marla land for setting up a lower terminal and right of way within the Punjab territory for this purpose. However, the MoU was cancelled by the Himachal Pradesh Government on June 3, 2014.

In February, 2018, a letter from Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh was received to revive the project, following which Capt Amarinder conveyed his consent to Himachal Pradesh. Subsequently, the Punjab Tourism Department received the approved MoU from the Government of Himachal Pradesh on September 5, 2018.

It is proposed to carry out this project in PPP mode by setting up a special purpose vehicle. The total paid up equity of SPV will be Rs one crore, with Rs 50 lakhs each as share of the two states.

As per the MoU, both states will have equal share in the revenue, with concession period of 40 years. In the initial seven years, no concession fee would be paid by the concessionaire and a time period of three years would be given to set up this project, said the spokesperson.

Cabinet has also ratified the agreement, signed on September 8 between the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Central Government’s Commissioner Indus, for immediate resumption of work on Shahpur Kandi Dam Project.

The project, aimed to be completed in three years, would generate 206 MW of additional hydro power, leading to irrigation and power benefits worth Rs 852.73 crore annually.

With the completion of the project, the Ranjit Sagar Dam would operate its optimum capacity. It would also help in regulating releases at Shahpurkandi Dam, thus helping improve irrigation facilities to the command area under Uppar Bari Doab Canal (UBDC). J&K would get its share of water from Shahpur Kandi Dam project through gravity.

PADDY PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENTS REVIEWED

Reviewing the arrangements and preparedness for the paddy procurement season beginning from October 1, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder issued directives for smooth and hassle-free procurement of the grain.

Elaborate arrangements were being made to procure the expected 200 lakh metric tonnes paddy.

The Chief Minister has asked the Food and Civil Supplies Department, the nodal agency for the procurement operations, to ensure all necessary arrangements for smooth, prompt and hassle-free procurement and storage of paddy.

He also reiterated the Government’s firm commitment to lift every single grain of the farmers’ produce from the market and strictly adhere to the prescribed norms of timely payment.

Cabinet was informed that the Central Government had fixed minimum support price of Rs 1770 per quintal for grade 'A' paddy and Rs 1750 per quintal for common variety paddy for the Kharif marketing season 2018-19.

Five State procurement agencies — Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, PSWC, PAFC, along with FCI, will procure paddy on MSP as per specification laid down by the Central Government.

During the previous KMS 2017-18, a total of 179.34 LMT paddy was procured, of which 176.61 LMT paddy was procured by Government agencies, while traders or millers procured only 2.73 LMT. During ensuing KMS 2018-19, State Agencies will procure 190.00 LMT paddy and FCI will procure 10 LMT paddy.

 

LAND TRANSFER FOR BATHINDA AIIMS

PROJECT OKAYED

Cabinet has decided to transfer certain land pieces, belonging to the State Government, to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the AIIMS project at Bathinda.

“Cabinet has decided to transfer four Acres, one Kanal, 13 Marla of land, which stands in the name of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, and Punjab Department of Sports to the Central Ministry,” said the speokesperson.

The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval 175.1 acre of land belonging to Punjab Agriculture University at Jodhpur Romana village in Bathinda, transferred earlier to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, free of cost for the AIIMS project.

With this decision, the requirement of entire land for the establishment of AIIMS at Bathinda now stands completely fulfilled, said the spokesperson.

Bathinda AIIMS would be a 750-bed premier medical institute with 10 specialty departments and 11 super-specialty departments. The Chief Minister reiterated his government's firm commitment to ensure early operationalization of AIIMS Bathinda, the progress of which was being monitored on regular basis, added the spokesperson.

PUNJAB APPROVES RULES FOR FRBM ACT IMPLEMENTATION TO ACHIEVE FISCAL TARGETS

Punjab Cabinet gave its approval to the rules for implementation of Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003.

The move will help the state achieve specific fiscal targets within a stipulated time period to avail the benefit of the Centre’s Debt Consolidation and Relief Facility for states, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting.

The Act was framed by the Central Government on the basis of the model draft bill circulated by the Reserve Bank of India, suitably amended from time to time. As per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, each state is mandatorily required to enact a Fiscal Responsibility Legislation to realize the desired targets.

The framing of these rules was also necessary as the State Government had entered an agreement with the Asian Development Bank, under which it would get a loan of 200 million US dollars (Rs 1200 crore approximately).

On fulfillment of the necessary conditions, the first tranche of 50 million US dollars (Rs 316.92) and the second tranche of 50 million US dollars (Rs 337.06 crore) had already been received by the state, said the spokesperson.

As per the conditions of the agreement for release of third tranche of 100 million US dollars, it was necessary for the State Government to make Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Rules.

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