Chandigarh, December 9
The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday declared the activity of excavation of brick earth/ordinary earth from area up to 2 acres and depth up to 3 feet as a non-mining activity.
The brick-kiln owners shall apply for licence as per Form ‘A’ and obtain it in Form ‘B’ for the purpose. Whereas the excavation is done beyond above specified limits, the case will be dealt within the prescribed Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013, as well as prevailing guidelines. This will ease the process to operationalise the brick-kilns.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also decided to give relief to domestic electricity consumers having sanctioned load up to 7 KW by reducing electricity tariff rates by Rs 3 per unit wef November 1, 2021, instead of December 1, 2021. The decision will involve annual financial burden of Rs 151 crore on the state exchequer thus benefitting nearly 69 lakh lakh domestic consumers with the reduced tariff.
The Cabinet also decided to waive the arrears of outstanding water bills worth Rs 500 crore. For direct recruitment in boards, commissions, authorities, the rules will be amended so as to make the provision of knowledge of Punjabi language compulsory. —TNS
Relief for cotton Crop increased
In an approval to extend the value of relief for 76-100 per cent loss of cotton crop, a value of Rs5,000 per acre has been added to the current value of Rs12,000 per acre making it to Rs17,000 per acre with effect effective from June 1, 2021. Relief worth Rs416 crore already provided to farmers affected by damage caused due to pink bollworm
Standalone buildings to be Regularised
Nod to regularisation of standalone buildings ie educational, medical, religious, social and charitable institutes constructed without prior permission on “as is where is basis” by taking regularisation fee
Excavation norms for brick-kilns eased
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