Punjab Cabinet approves 550 posts for Patiala, Amritsar medical colleges

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 18

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the Local Government Department for pollution in drains, streams and rivers of the state, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs650 crore for the first phase of rejuvenating highly polluted Budha Nullah in Ludhiana.

The Cabinet also approved creation of 550 posts for medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar. Besides, one per cent additional stamp duty on the sale and purchase of property has been okayed.

On pollution in Budha Nullah, officials said an additional sewage treatment plan (STP) having a capacity of 275 million litres per day (MLD), including associated infrastructure, would be built. They say one more STP would go a long way in reducing pollution in Budha Nullah and the Sutlej.

The main sources of pollution in the Ludhiana drain are the waste discharged by industries, dairies and slums; treated effluents from STPs; and overflow from sewerage lines; the capacity of the sewerage system and STPs is insufficient to carry the waste.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved creation of 550 posts at government medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar. Of that number, 66 posts of paramedic of technical nature, 464 of nurse, technician and Class IV employee, and 20 of Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)/Multi-disciplinary Research Units (MRU).

Besides, nod was given to creating five posts in the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, along with revival of the already sanctioned nine posts. The approval comes on the basis of recommendations by a committee tasked with restructuring and revamping medical colleges.

Buying of property is set to become expensive in urban areas, with the Cabinet deciding to levy one per cent additional stamp duty on registration of the property. Rural areas have been exempted from the cess. The resources generated will be used to finance water supply and environment improvement programmes in urban areas. Sources say the one-year waiver for imposing cess in urban areas was ending in March.

The government will earn Rs500 crore annually from this. The money will be spent for the argumentation of water supply, solid waste management and sewerage treatment.

Medical college named after Ambedkar

The Cabinet on Tuesday renamed Government Medical College in Mohali as the Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences. The Mohali medical college is being set up with provision for 100 MBBS seats under the Centrally sponsored scheme of ‘Establishment of New Medical College attached with the existing District/Referral Hospitals’ having a strength of more than 200 beds.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.