other cabinet decisions
Opts for progressive bidding for mines that may jack up sand, gravel prices; govt justifies move saying it will bring transparency in business that was ‘cartelised’ during Akali regime
Cabinet caps private school fee hike to 8% Saragarhi memorial handed over to Trust Amarinder govt ends ‘Babu Raj’ in Punjab Technical varsity Progressive bidding okayed for mines
CHANDIGARH : In view of protests by parents against “excessive” fees being charged by private schools, the Punjab cabinet on Wednesday capped the annual hike to 8% of the previous year’s fee.
Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal later told mediapersons that all other funds charged by the schools would also be covered under the Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Rules, 2017, which got the cabinet nod.
The Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Act, 2016, had already been enacted in compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, a government spokesman said.
PROGRESSIVE BIDDING FOR MINES
To add to its own kitty, the cashstrapped state has decided to switch to progressive e-bidding for fresh mine auctions.
Under progressive bidding, buyers compete with higher bids rather than undercutting each other’s bids as in reverse bidding. The government said it will mop up revenue to the tune of ₹300 crore.
But higher bids may also push up the cost of sand and gravel, whose prices have already hit the roof owing to government crackdown on illegal mining.
The government justified the move saying it will bring transparency into the mining business, which was “cartelised” during the previous SAD-BJP regime, and also generate ₹300 crore as revenue.
The state would soon also implement the Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System (i3MS) to bring in greater transparency. It has been approved by the Government of India and successfully tried and tested in the state of Odisha, the cabinet noted.
The cabinet also decided to hike the compensation to land owners from ₹50 to ₹60 per tonne. The state government is already working on a new mining policy, which is expected to be announced by the end of this month.
While 59 mines are ready for auction and production can commence in these by May 20, another 58 are awaiting environmental clearance and expected to become operational by midAugust.
SARAGARHI MEMORIAL HANDED OVER TO TRUST
The cabinet also decided to hand over the management of the Saragarhi memorial and gurdwara to the administration of Saragarhi Memorial Management Trust, Ferozepur, for better upkeep of the historic site.
The Trust comprises serving armymen as well as ex-servicemen as its trustees. It cancelled the orders of the previous SADBJP government entrusting the management of the gurdwara to Baba Nand Singh Gurdwara Nanaksar Kaleran, Jagraon, for a period of 30 years.
THE CABINET ALSO DECIDED TO HIKE THE COMPENSATION TO LAND OWNERS FROM ₹50 TO ₹60 PER TONNE