Punjab Cabinet approves key decisions to boost industry and development

In an effort to woo industry, Punjab Council of Ministers has taken four important decisions to give relief to the businessmen.

From a policy for allowing fragmentation of freehold industrial plots to increasing the contribution in Labour Welfare Board, the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has given its nod to some of the long-standing demands of the industry. These demands had been raised time and again by industrialists during the Sarkar Sannatkar Milni programmes of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Cabinet has also given its nod to fast approvals for building plans submitted by the industry. Other than this, the Cabinet has approved of increasing the time frame for the renewal of the fire safety certificate from one year to three to five years, depending on the category of the industry. This will end the corruption in getting these certificates, said Industry Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond.

The Cabinet has also given its nod to creation of 500 new posts in the jails department for wardens, matrons and assistant superintendents. The approval had also been given to increase the contribution of both employees and employers in Labour Welfare Fund.

It has been decided to appoint the Chief Secretary as chairman of all local development boards in the state. Till now, the Chief Minister was handling the charge, but because of his busy schedules, the development works here were getting delayed, said Finance Minister Harpal Cheema.

He added that while the Chief Secretary will clear the files, they will be approved only when they are finally okayed by the CM during cabinet meetings.