March 05, 2020.
Topic: Punjab Budget
What is the news?
-
Punjab Vidhan Sabha passes a few bills.
Five bills were passed by the Vidhan Sabha:-
First:-
- Punjab Slum Dwellers ( Proprietory rights) bill was passed so that ownership rights could be given to the slum dwellers occupying the government land.
- A slum area redevelopment and rehabilitation Committee would be formed for each urban area so that the rights to beneficiaries for owning a house could be given.
- They would be allotted land, varying between 30 sq m and 60 sq m.
Second:-
- Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties bill were passed.
- Under this, illegal squatters on commercial and residential properties of municipal bodies and improvement trusts would be given ownership rights on the payment of a certain amount.
- It would give ownership rights to tenants, who have been occupying properties for more than 12 years.
- The transfer of Commercial Properties would take place through auction.
- Whereas residential ones through allotment or draw of lots.
- In the residential properties, the Economically Weaker sections would be offered the property rights at 12.5% of the collector rate. ( Income less than ₹3 lakh).
- For income group ( ₹ 8 lakh to ₹ 15 lakh) – at 50% rate.
- For income group ( more than₹15 lakh) – at the prices prevailing at the collector rate.
Third:-
- Punjab Prison Development Board Bill was also passed.
- This aims at reducing the financial liability of the jails department by identifying new means of revenue generation
- Through – educational, vocational and industrial training, etc.
- Also reforming the conditions of the prisoners and efficient management of prisons would also be done.
Fourth:-
- Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions ( Regulation of Fee and making of reservation ) amendment bill was passed as well.
Fifth:-
- Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management ( Amendment ) Bill was also passed by the Punjab Vidhan sabha.
(Source:- The Tribune)
Topic: Health and Health workers.
What is the news?
-
Remuneration to mid-day meal workers increased.
- The honorarium for the mid-day meal workers has been raised from ₹1700 to ₹3000.
- The government is also thinking of increasing the pension amount under old age, widow and handicapped pension schemes from ₹ 750 to ₹ 1500 per month.
(Source:-The Tribune)
Topic: Conservation of wetlands.
What is the news?
-
Sukhna Lake gets the legal status.
- The Punjab and Haryana High court has accorded the legal status to Sukhna Lake.
- The honourable High court has also ordered the demolition of legal/unauthorised constructions in its catchment area within 3 months.
- ₹200 crores have also been imposed on the states of Punjab and Haryana for encroachments on the lake.
- The chief secretaries and The UT advisor have been directed to constitute high power Committees to fix accountability for such large scale unauthorised construction.
- Besides, the High court has also ordered:
- To provide alternative sites nearby Chandigarh to owners of buildings in the catchment area with approved building maps.
- ₹25 lakh compensation should also be paid to them.
- Ministry of environment, forest and climate change to notify at least 1 km area from Sukhna’s boundary as an eco-sensitive zone within 3 months.
- All citizens have been declared as Loco parents as a human face to save Sukhna Lake from extinction.
- New construction banned in its catchment areas in the delineated map.
(Source:- The Tribune)