Punjab Assembly passes landmark pro-people decisions under CM Bhagwant Mann's leadership: Bhullar
-Unanimously elected Panchayats will be given a grant of Rs. 5 lakh each.
-Promise fulfilled to relax the norms for the recruitment of women in fire fighting staff.
-Amendments in the PAPRA Act, a significant gift from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to the people of Punjab.
-The amendments will regulate the real estate sector while preventing illegal colonies.
HARISH MONGA
Ferozepur, September 5, 2024: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Legislative Assembly has passed several historic and pro-people decisions.
Key bills passed include the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Punjab Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2024, the Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (PAPRA Act).
MLA Ranbir Singh Bhullar praised CM Mann's initiatives, highlighting the government's commitment to the welfare of common people and the development of all sections of society.
He welcomed the decisions, including the allocation of grants of Rs. 5 lakh to unanimously elected Panchayats, promising a stadium, school, or hospital to villages electing their Panchayat unanimously. He emphasized that this would reduce factionalism and promote overall development in villages. Further, MLA Bhullar noted that the state government has successfully implemented a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for pending VAT cases, generating over Rs. 164 crore more than the previous financial year. He stated that a new OTS scheme will be introduced soon.
Regarding women’s empowerment, the Punjab Fire and Emergency Services Bill, passed unanimously in the Assembly aims to ease recruitment norms for women in firefighting roles by modifying physical standards. MLA Bhullar hailed this as a historic step toward empowering women in the state. The Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, offers relief to those who purchased plots in unauthorized colonies.
He condemned previous governments for supporting developers of illegal colonies, which resulted in slum-like conditions in urban areas. He mentioned that nearly 14,000 illegal colonies exist across Punjab due to poor policies. As per the new amendment, individuals who purchased plots up to 500 sq. yards with agreements, power of attorney, and bank transactions before July 31, 2024, can register their properties without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) until November 2, 2024.
MLA Bhullar thanked CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for his continued efforts to pass bills and introduce schemes for the welfare of the people, ensuring benefits to all sections of society in Punjab.