The Punjab Government has decided to bid for setting up a Bulk Drug Park in Bathinda as a part of the Central Government’s newly-launched scheme for establishment of three such parks in the country.
Giving the in-principle approval to the move during the virtual meeting on Thursday, the Cabinet has decided to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee to work out the details of the proposal to be made to the Government of India, which has laid down various criteria for the parks, including a minimum land requirement of 1000 acres.
The Centre has framed an area scoring criteria for selection of States for setting up the parks.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee — comprising Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora, Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Housing and Urban Development Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria — has been mandated to submit their report to the Cabinet over the next few days to enable the State to submit its proposal before the last date of September 27, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Cabinet Sub Committee has also been asked to examine a slew of incentives, including subsidized rates for power, effluent treatment, water steam solid waste treatment, monthly warehouse charges, monthly park maintenance charges and annual land lease charges, to get good score in the valuation of location of the project by Central Government.
It would also make recommendations to amend the Industrial and Business Development Policy, 2017, for introducing interest subvention scheme for the Bulk Drug Pharma Park.
The estimated cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1,878 crore, including cost of trunk infrastructure and common infrastructure facilities. The Centre’s grant would be Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 878 crore would be contributed by the State Government.
Notably, the Cabinet, in its earlier meeting on June 22, 2020, had approved transfer of 1764 acres of land of Bathinda thermal plant to PUDA. Of this, an area of 1320 acres has been identified for the Bulk Drug Park and Department of Housing and Urban Development has been directed to execute the project as per the Centre’s scheme once the selection process is completed.
The proposed park in Bathinda would help boost the state’s economy through creation of employment generation opportunities and overall development.
PUNJAB TO RELAX CONSTRUCTED AREA CONDITION FOR VARSITIES TO PROMOTE HIGHER EDUCATION
To boost higher education and encourage establishment of more private universities in Punjab, the State Cabinet on Thursday decided to relax the constructed area condition for universities from 50,000 square meters to 30,000 square meters for multi-domain University, and from 20,000 square meters to 15,000 square meters for single-domain University. As per the decision, taken by the Cabinet in its videoconferencing meeting to, The Punjab Private University Policy-2010 would also be amended accordingly, said a government spokesperson, after the meeting.
The decision was taken in line with the recommendations of the committee, constituted under the Chief Secretary by the Higher Education Department, to consider the representations received from various sponsoring bodies for relaxation or amendment in various clauses of the 2010 Policy for the establishment of new Private Universities in the State. Spokesperson said, as per provision 4.5(iv) of the aforesaid policy, the constructed area required for setting up of multi-domain University in Punjab is 50,000 square meters which is the highest in India, and thus the Government has decided to amend the existing provisions. The amended policy would further facilitate higher capital investments in the field of higher education and it is expected that two more Universities, which have tie-ups with globally acclaimed Universities, would set up campuses in Punjab.
PRIORITY TO RURAL PIPED WATER CONNECTIONS, SANITATION
To ensure universal coverage of rural households with piped water connections, the Punjab Government has decided to accord first priority to providing Functional House Tap Connections (FHTCs) in the remaining 17.59 lakh households from the tied grants for water under 15th Finance Commission to meet its 2022 target of 100 percent piped water connectivity. As per the Cabinet decision, out of 17.59 lakh households that still remain to be connected, 7.60 lakhs with FHTCs would be covered in 2020-21 and 9.99 lakh in 2021-22.
The Cabinet also decided to give top priority to Swachh Bharat Mission, Gramin, (SBM(G)) Phase-II, for making all villages in the state open defecation free (ODF)-plus in the next five years, from allocations available under tied grants for sanitation under the 15th Finance Commission. An ODF Plus village is defined as a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management, and is visually clean.
SUB-COMMITTEE TO FINALISE MODALITIES FOR PACL’s STRATEGIC DISINVESTMENT
Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved the constitution of Empowered Cabinet Sub-Committee to finalize the modalities for strategic disinvestment of Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL), besides approving the formation of a Core Group of Officers under the Chief Secretary to chalk out details for the same. Punjab Government, through Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), holds 33.49 percent equity shares of PACL. The Core Group would present its report to the empowered sub-committee, which will comprise of Cabinet Ministers Brahm Mahindra, Manpreet Singh Badal and Sunder Sham Arora. The decision was taken in response to the proposal of disinvestment of Sick Industrial Unit – PACL, mooted by Directorate of Disinvestment and Public Enterprises through Finance Department, in order to improve the liquidity position of PSIDC.
RADHA SOAMI SATSANG BHAWANS EXEMPTED FROM CLU, OTHER CHARGES
Taking in view the immense contribution of Radha Soami Satsang, Beas, in disseminating the universal teachings of love, peace, harmony and brotherhood, Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved waiver of fee for Change of Land Use (CLU) and several other charges for Satsang Bhawans established, or to be established in future, by Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) across the State. Apart from CLU, the other charges to be waived include External Development Charges (EDC), Permission Fee (PF), Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) and Building Scrutiny Fee.
The Cabinet acceded to the proposal put forth by Housing and Urban Development Department for exemption of said charges, with a financial implication of Rs 12.18 crore as per the list submitted by the RSSB, of which Rs 6.96
crore belongs to state exchequer and Rs 5.22 crore to the respective Urban Development Authorities.
The Cabinet noted that the sect is disseminating the universal teachings of love, peace, harmony and brotherhood as propagated by the great Saints through its Satsangs and publications, besides motivating people to stay away from drugs and other bad habits.
Notably, the State Government has already exempted these charges for educational, health, religious and social institutions set up by SGPC, Durgiana Mandir, Amritsar; and Devi Talab Mandir, Jalandhar.
