SMOOTH MILLING OPERATIONS

CHANDIGARH:AMID the Covid-19 pandemic, all rice delivery operations in Punjab, including allotment, registration and physical verification of rice mills, will be managed and monitored online, under the new Punjab Custom Milling Policy for paddy for the 2020-21 kharif season.

The cabinet approved the new policy, aimed at ensuring seamless paddy milling and rice delivery into the Central Pool. The government will launch a portal, www.anaajkharid.in, for smooth paddy procurement.

ENHANCED BANK GUARANTEE

The government has also enhanced the bank guarantee for security of the stocks and millers will be required to furnish enhanced bank guarantee, equal to value of 10% of acquisition cost of allocable free paddy above 3,000 metric tonnes (MTS), as against 5% on 5,000 MTS last year. “Lowering of the threshold limit for submission of bank guarantee will bring an additional 1,000 mills within the direct monitoring ambit,” the spokesperson said.

Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for simplification of provisions and processes to levy and collect taxes. It will not only ensure simplifications of provisions and processes but also make it more userfriendly, an official spokesperson said.