PUNJAB

Punjab has earned a revenue of Rs 1,481.83 crore fromGSTduring April 2021. This is the states highest revenue from GST for any particular month since the introduction of GST during July 2017.

An official of the commissioners office said the earlier highest monthly revenue from GST was Rs 1,216 crore, earned during July 2019. The revenue from GST during April 2020 was Rs 156 crore due to relief provided to taxpayers in furnishing returns for February, March and April 2020 on account of Covid-19 and the country undergoing a lockdown after March 23, 2020.

n April 2019, Punjab recorded a Growth of 36%, with sectors like telecom, iron and steel, electronic goods, cement,petroleum productswithin GST making important contributions to the revenue earned for the particular month.

In April 2021, taxpayers of Punjab paid GST in cash to the tune of Rs 1,924.1 crore, which is another historic high. The previous highest amount was Rs 1,396 crore, collected in November 2020.

In addition to GST,Punjab collected tax revenuefromVATandCSTregime withmajor contributors being alcoholand five petroleum products which are outside GST. For April 2021, VAT and CST collection stood at Rs 701.13 crore, whereas it was Rs 430.82 crore for the same month in 2019. The collections fromPunjab state development tax(PSDT) have been stable as in April 2021.

Seven villages of Malerkotla have been selected under the (PMAGY). The Centre has aleady released development funds to the tune of Rs 1.42 crore for these villages.

The selected villages include Mohrana, Kalian, Monarwali, Bir Amamgarh, Phalaud Kalan, Bhatian Khurd and Bhumsi.

Sources informed that the village-level committees comprising sarpanches and panchayat members had been formed.

Moreover, village development plans (VDPs) have been prepared after taking Consent of the villagers.

To ensure that sand and gravel are available at reasonable rates to the general public, Punjab Governments Mining Department is all set to introduce public mining sites in the state.

Terming the decision as historic and path-breaking initiative, the states Mining and Geology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Monday said that these sites will help in checking any malpractice to jack up the prices of sand and truly give the freedom of choice to the common man to buy sand from the source of his choice and at the price of his choice.

The Chief Minister would shortly announce details of all such sites in various districts in the State. The first public mining site would be inaugurated soon itself, he added.

To increase the presence of the Control Bureau (NCB) in Punjab, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the opening of a full-fledged regional office of the bureau in Amritsar. It will be headed by a Deputy Director-General of the rank of an IG or above.

Punjab will be the first state where drug-related cases will be pursued by two separate offices of the NCB the existing Zonal Division in Chandigarh and the upcoming regional office.

In a major boost to the country’s air DEFENCE capabilities, theIndian Air Force(IAF) is deploying the first squadron of the S-400 air defence missile system in thePunjabsector.

Parts of the Russian missile system had started reaching India earlier this month and the unit is expected to be operationalized in the next few weeks, they said.

The S-400 air defence system was contracted for by India in a deal worth around Rs 35,000 crore and five squadrons would be provided to India for tacking air threats from up to 400 km.
The first squadron deliveries are expected to be complete by the end of this year.

Punjab Government has identified no less than 90,248 deceased beneficiaries under various pension schemes a move set to save the states Rs 13.53 crore per month and Rs 162.36 crore annually.

The states Social Security, Women and Child Development Department has conducted a survey on the directions of the Minister in-charge Dr Baljit Kaur, following which, as many as 90,248 deceased beneficiaries of various pension schemes were identified. With this step, the state treasury will be richer by 13.53 crore per month, said the Minister.

The Minister said that a survey of 30.46 lakh beneficiaries of Punjab has been conducted. On completion of this survey, 90248 deceased beneficiaries have been identified. By identifying the deceased beneficiaries, Punjab Government will save Rs 13.53 crore per month and Rs 162.36 crore annually, she said.

Despite the overall improvement in the Covid-19 scenario in Punjab, the high death rate continues to be a matter of concern. The state’s fortnightly death rate has jumped to a new high of 7.67% during October 4-17 from 5.02% recorded on October 3.

While the number of daily deaths has fallen in the state, it is not in proportion to the drop in case tally. Addition of unreported deaths in recent months is another reason for the overall death rate remaining stagnant at 2.7% — three deaths out of every 100 confirmed cases–which is more than double the all-India Average of 1.3%. Around 300 old deaths have been added to the states tally in the last few months.

Punjab and Maharashtra (2.1%) are the only two states in the country with a death rate of over 2%. As many as 10 states/UT have a death rate below 1% while 20 have case fatality rate of below 2%. The neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have death rates of 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively.

The cabinet deliberated that the free mining of sand by the landowners will be allowed to abolish the contract system. Under this system, any landowner can mine sand from his land to ensure its availability to the consumers at affordable rates, said an official spokesperson. The first cabinet meeting chaired by the CM and two deputy CMs began at 8pm and went on for over three hours.

The cabinet also discussed the proposal to increase free electricity units from existing 200 units to 300 units under SC/BC/BPL domestic consumers. It asked the additional chief secretary for power to bring the proposal in the next meeting to give relief to the poor and needy.

The cabinet also deliberated to waive off the pending electricity bills of tube wells working under rural water supply (RWS) schemes and also to provide free water supply in rural areas.

It was decided that Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC) will formulate a policy for allotment of land to occupants at affordable rates.
The cabinet decided that a comprehensive policy regarding proper implementation of the Right to Education Act and providing monetary help to the eligible educational institutes be prepared and put up in the next meeting.