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A
PML bottle in Punjab would now be costlier by Rs five
while the IMFL bottle would go up by Rs 10, a government
spokesman revealed. VAT on molasses would be decreased
from 22% to four % in order to avoid losses to Punjab
based sugar mills, on account of purchase of molasses from
outside.
The new excise policy of 2008-09, which is a continuation
of the old policy where licensing units would be allotted
by draw-of-lots, would see additional revenue generation
of Rs 72 crore, and the total revenue generation would be
approximately by Rs 1,728 crore. Although, the number of
vends would remain almost the same as the previous year,
the cabinet has approved to increase the quota of PML by
3% while effecting no hike in the quota of IMFL. With
this, the quota for the year 2008-09 would be 618 lakh PL
for PML and 325 lakh PLs for IMFL.
The entire process of draw-of-lots would be supervised by
the deputy commissioners of the concerned district and
senior officers of the excise and taxation department.
Making another policy change, the cabinet has also decided
to fix a maximum retail price for IMFL, which was not done
in 2007-08. Now the maximum sale price (brand-wise) of
IMFL would be fixed by the ETC both at L-1 and L-2 stages.
Among other decisions, the cabinet approved revival and
filling up of 13,998 vacancies of school teachers on
contract basis. Out of these, 9,998 and 4,000 teachers
would be appointed in the primary and secondary education
cadres respectively.
The Cabinet also approved in principle to establish Sri
Guru Granth Sahib World University sponsored by Sri Guru
Granth Sahib 4th Centenary Memorial Trust. This would be
done so by enacting the Sri Guru Granth Sahib World
University Bill, 2008 in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The
trust would be established under the Indian Trust Act, as
a constituent unit of SGPC.
The cabinet also approved enhancement of limit of
disbursement of ‘discretionary grants' for development
purposes by the chief ministers, ministers and chief
parliamentary secretaries from Rs five lakh to Rs 10 on
one occasion for single purpose.
Setting up of educational tribunal, covering all aided and
un-aided educational institutions in Punjab has also been
approved. PSEB's borrowing limit has now been raised from
Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore to meet with the crash
crunch position. It has also been decided to acquire 120
acre, 3 kanal and 16 marla land at Attari border to set up
integrated check post as demanded by the union government
in view of the increasing trade between India and
Pakistan.
Source
: Times of India - India, dated 28/02/2008
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