On the last day of the 7th monsoon session of the Assembly, 4 bills including Punjab Panchayati Raj Amendment Bill and Punjab Fire and Emergency Service Bill have been passed unanimously. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema introduced the Punjab GST Amendment Bill 2024. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Panchayat elections will be conducted in Punjab soon. Elections will not be held on party lines. Panchayats selected unanimously will be given Rs 5 lakh.
He said that his endeavor is that the Sarpanch of the villages should not be of the party but of the villages. At the same time, in 2018 no person has contested the elections on the party symbol. He said that due to this this rule will be amended. The village which unanimously elects the Panchayat will be given a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
Apart from this, other facilities including stadium will be provided. He said that if elections are held unanimously then people's money will be saved. Nowadays, Rs 40-40 lakh is spent on the election of Sarpanchi.
GST will not be applicable on ENA human consumption
Let us tell you that changes have been made in Section 9 of the Punjab GST Amendment Bill. There will be no GST on Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) for human consumption. GST will be applicable only on ENA used in industry. Cheema said that under Section 74A, GST defaulters will now get 60 days to present their case. Those traders who deposit their taxes by March 31, 2025, their penalties and cess will be waived.
Women will be recruited in fire brigade
At the same time, CM Mann expressed his opinion on the Punjab Fire and Emergency Bill in the House. He said that this bill was very important because the rules had not changed for years due to which problems were arising. Regarding the Punjab Fire and Emergency Service Bill, CM Mann said that he had received something from him in Derabassi a few days ago. He said that he has passed the written test.
But there was a problem in physical because there was a rule that boys and girls would have to carry a 60 kg sack and walk. Because of this she is not able to get admitted.
Weight requirement is 60 to 40 kg
In such a situation, the rules for girls should change.He too was surprised to know this. Now the weight requirement for girls is going to be changed from 60 kg to 40 kg. Also, Punjab will become the first state where girls will be given the opportunity to join fire service. He said that there is a need to dust off the files. At the same time, the fire brigade has been given vehicles and equipment on the lines of New York.
Talked on phone with JP Nadda regarding DAP case
CM Mann said that in the matter related to DAP, he had spoken to Union Minister JP Nadda on phone. He had told the Union Minister that Punjab is giving 120 lakh metric tonnes to the Central Pool. But till now he has not been given his due quota of DAP.
CM said that Nadda had said that you should send your officers to Delhi. Punjab's quota will be given in full. After this our officers went there. At the same time, he told MLA Sandeep Jakhar to know this thing himself and also tell his uncle because incomplete knowledge is dangerous.
Apartment-Property Regulation Bill passed
Let us tell you that CM Mann had presented the Punjab Apartment-Property Regulation Bill in the Assembly on Tuesday. Which was passed unanimously in the House. CM Mann said that common people will get a lot of benefit from this bill. According to the new bill, NOC will not be required for houses within 500 yards.
CM Mann told the benefits of the bill
During this, CM Mann said that after coming to know about the colonies which are illegal, electricity meters are not installed and water connections are not available. Due to which people have to face huge problems. Strict action will be taken against those who cut down illegal colonies. Earlier, at the time of votes, all the colonies were regularized.