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Tuesday, May 10, 2005

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Punjab to restore some sops

Staff Correspondent

Octroi, tariff may go; free power for farm sector

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has reiterated the resolve of his Government to fulfil its election promise of abolishing the levy of octroi and waiving off all tariffs to provide power to small and marginal farmers as well as the farm labourers.

According to an official release here, Capt Singh made the announcement while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the second block of the district administrative complex at the Sangrur district headquarters, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs.11.07 crores.

Capt. Singh said that keeping in view an improved financial situation the state government was contemplating to restore some previous concessions.

He said that the poor economic situation and the huge debt burden of Rs. 43000 crores inherited from the previous Akali-BJP regime, prevented his government from fulfilling its poll promises. Following some "prudent policies on financial management'' it had been possible to restore some levels of fiscal discipline, which coupled with availability of sufficient funds, provided an opportunity to honour the commitment with the people. Justifying his stance regarding waiver of the power tariff, the Chief Minister said that Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), which was in the red for the past many years had shown a net profit of Rs.175 crores during the current financial year for the first time. Besides, the power position had also improved considerably resulting in the increase of food grain production, which translated into Rs 5000 crore being added into the rural economy during the last three years.

Referring to the abolition of octroi, the Chief Minister said the matter was before the national commission for advice on identifying alternate sources of revenue to meet the committed expenditure of municipal bodies in the state, which worked to around Rs 580 crores.

"After examining the suggestions of the commission we would do away the system of octroi at once,'' he added.

Drawing the public attention towards the investments in the industrial sector, the Chief Minister claimed that hardly a day passed when the state government did not receive a proposal from entrepreneurs willing to set up units in Punjab. The state government has already cleared 37 mega projects worth Rs.10,000 crores.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, PWD (B&R) Minister, Partap Singh Bajwa said that the World Bank had approved a loan of Rs.1100 crores and the first road between Barnala and Malerkotla towns was under construction, with the project cost estimated at Rs.13 crores.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones of the Government Senior Secondary School for Girls, which is to be constructed by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) at a cost of Rs. 4 crores.

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