Punjab cabinet meeting: Nod to settlement of Rs 28,000-cr CCL dues
The Punjab cabinet approved the state sub-committee recommendations on Monday for the settlement of Rs 28,000-crore owed to the Centre against the money received for the procurement of food grains since 1994.
The Punjab cabinet approved the state sub-committee recommendations on Monday for the settlement of Rs 28,000-crore owed to the Centre against the money received for the procurement of food grains since 1994.
The committee — of food and civil supplies minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon and finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa — for the settlement of legacy food credit account held a meeting with the State Bank of India officials on September 20. The bank agreed to reduce the yearly interest on the outstanding amount from 9.26 to 8.25%. Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal chaired that meeting.
The legacy account is the difference between the state’s actual expenses on procurement and the provisional cost reimbursed by the Centre. Food and civil supplies department officials say the due amount was just a few-hundred crore in the year 1994-95, and it swelled to Rs 28,000 crore because of a high interest rate.
At 9.26%, the interest alone is Rs 3,000 crore every year. The slashing of the rate will reduce it be Rs 850 crore.
Status upgraded: Ahmedgarh sub-tehsil in Sangrur district has been upgraded to a subdivision. Residents, so far, have to travel to Sangrur for revenue-related work. Sub-tehsil status was given to Ajitwal and Samaalsar in Moga district and office staff deployed at both places.
BC list expanded: On the recommendations of the state Backward Classes commission, the cabinet approved the inclusion of Gosai/Goswami, Yadav/Aahir and Rabari communities among Backward Classes.
Insurance scheme extended: Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna, for health insurance to 40-lakh blue-card-holder farmer, traders and labourer families has been extended from coming November to October 2017. Started in November 2015, it was to expire this October.
Dispensary upgraded: The Bhogpur civil dispensary was upgraded to a primary health centre. The cabinet also approved to sanction 13 new posts.
Recovery from private sugar mills: The cabinet took cognizance of the recovery process initiated by the cane commissioner after the cabinet decisions of September 2015 and November 2015 for recovering `50 per quintal from the private sugar mills. It also approved the agriculture department proposal to recover `223 crore from these mills as outstanding payment to sugarcane farmers. The state government will contribute `112 crore.
Approved: The cabinet approved framing of Group ‘B’ Service Rules of Directorate of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan.
Deferred
The item about lowering the minimum qualification of agriculture officer from MSc to BSc was deferred from the meeting’s agenda because a formal approval from the CM was awaited. It is expected to come in the next cabinet meeting.
No one from BJP: None of the ministers from coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attended the cabinet meeting because all are away to party’s national council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala.