Punjab slashes VAT on natural gas
CABINET MEETING VAT collection on gas had reduced to ₹5.7 cr last fiscal from ₹106 cr in 2014-15
SULTANPUR LODHI: In a bid to encourage industries to shift to eco-friendly gas, the state cabinet on Tuesday decided to cut down VAT on natural gas, in gaseous state other than compressed natural gas, from 14.3 to 3.3%.
At present, the rate of VAT on Natural Gas is 13%+10% surcharge i.e. 14.3% in Punjab.
The major consumer of gas is National Fertilisers Limited (NFL), which uses the gas at its plants at Bathinda and Nangal.
Natural gas is also consumed in very small quantity by select industries and the transport sector. Before March 2015, VAT rate on natural gas was 5.5%+10% surcharge i.e. 6.05%.
In another decision, the cabinet also approved the extension of Suhelewala distributory, Jalalabad, at a capital outlay of ₹1.35 crore under the medium irrigation (plan) budget grant.
ECGHS SCHEME: CABINET CAPS NUMBER OF FLATS PER ACRE
The cabinet took a series of decision with respect to housing allotment, including restriction of flats for allotment of land under ECGHS scheme to 40 per acre, and 3% reservation of residential plots for government employees under PUDA and special authorities’ jurisdiction.
A spokesperson said after the meeting that the decision to put a curb on per acre flats, allotted to the Employees Cooperative Group Housing Societies (ECGHS) by various development authorities, had been taken.
Further, in line with the MC’S approval on June 15, 2017, the council of ministers approved the reservation policy for allotment of land/sites falling under the jurisdiction of PUDA and other special authorities. The reservation policy envisages 3% residential plots/houses/apartments for allotment to government employees by development authorities, municipal corporations, improvement trusts or any other government agency
GROUNDWATER DEPLETION TO BE CURBED
The council of ministers resolved to take administrative and legal steps to effectively
check the depleting groundwater table in the state.
In its resolution, the cabinet underlined the need to take proactive measures for canalisation of the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi to conserve the ground water by ensuring its judicious utilisation besides saving it from contamination.
CM Capt Amarinder Singh said it was the bounden duty of all citizens to join the state government’s endeavour to save the most precious natural resource, which was also the lifeline of mankind, he asserted.
NOD TO CREATION OF 24 POSTS OF COURT MANAGERS
The cabinet gave approval for the creation of 24 posts of court manager grade-ii in subordinate courts across the state.
The move comes in response to a proposal received from the high court registrar, the home affairs and the justice department. A total of 22 posts would be for session divisions while one post each will be for deputation in Chandigarh and in the high court. The qualification for these posts would be MBA.