Cabinet okays 4 new Covid labs ‘Digital Punjab’ for grievance redressal on single platform
131 employees to be hired to run these facilities; also approves filling of 300 ad hoc posts in medical education dept
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved setting up of four new Covid-19 laboratories in the state with a view to ramping up the daily testing capacity from the current 9,000 to 13,000.
Also, the cabinet in a meeting chaired by chief minister Amarinder Singh gave the go-ahead to recruit 131 employees to run these laboratories that will come up at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana; Punjab State Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Mohali; Northern Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar; and Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali.
At present, viral research and diagnostic laboratories in three Government Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot are conducting coronavirus tests in the state. The cabinet also cleared the proposal of the medical education and research department to create and fill four posts of assistant professor (microbiology) on ad hoc basis in the new testing laboratories.
Besides, nod was given fill to 300 ad hoc posts in the medical education department, 100 each in the three government-run medical colleges to handle the critical Covid patients.
The cabinet also decided to fill all vacancies as per the regulations of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) for the Veterinary College, Rampura Phul (Bathinda), to ensure its optimal functioning.
NEW CHEMICAL LAB IN JALANDHAR
To bring down the pendency of reports of viscera, blood alcohol, etc in the chemical examiner laboratory, Kharar, the cabinet accorded approval to establish a new chemical laboratory in Jalandhar, with creation of 21 posts involving annual financial liability of ₹42.31 lakh.
CHANDIGARH: To give relief to entrepreneurs amid the covid-19 pandemic, the Punjab cabinet on Monday decided to extend the One-time Settlement (OTS) scheme for clearance of dues with the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) and Punjab Financial Corporation till December 31.
The move help in releasing blocked industrial investment and assets and enable the state to put the same to productive use and help in reducing litigation with respect to loans. PSIDC and PFC are also expected to recover Rs 10 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively.
A comprehensive public grievance redressal policy of all departments under the ambit of ‘Digital Punjab’ has also been approved. The department of governance reforms and public grievances has built an IT portal for this and will conduct training of relevant stakeholders.
The cabinet also decided that sanctions and approvals pertaining to building plan, completion certificate, trade license registration, land use change, fire department No-objection Certificate (NOC), factory building plan approval (except for industries involving hazardous process), as well as registration of shops or
establishments, would be granted by the District Level Nodal Agency that the deputy commissioner heads. The council of ministers paid homage to 20 Indian soldiers killed while protecting India’s borders and territorial integrity.
SUBORDINATE RANK RULES FOR POLICE
The Punjab Police Investigation Cadre Subordinate Ranks Rules, 2020 to govern the recruitment/ appointment and the conditions of service of subordinate ranks (constables to inspectors) of the Punjab Bureau of Investigation
Cadre were also approved. Also, the cabinet decided to transfer the regional campus of Guru Nanak Dev University, Fattu Dhinga, to the Bebe Nanki University College (Girls) as constituent college as part of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Amendments were cleared to the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015, by inserting the definition of ‘Discount’ and ‘Face Value’. This amendment would help in starting new weekly lottery schemes in the state to enhance its revenue. Nod was given for 12 posts in the Punjab Transparency and Accountability Commission.
SANGRUR ADDS 18 INFECTIONS
Eighteen new patients surfaced in Sangrur on Monday. As per health officials, the patients were from Malerkotla, Saron, Bahadurpur and Sangrur areas of the district.