In Punjab, illegally occupied govt houses, growing food adulteration under assembly lens

The minister said that at present, 10 allottees were staying “illegally” after the expiry of allotment period in the government kothis and administrative action was being taken. Kohli demanded that a flying squad be formed at headquarters in Chandigarh which should do surprise checks to find unauthorised occupants of such kothis, to which minister replied that surprise checking was done from time
to time.

The minister pointed out that the “trend” (to keep occupying kothis even after expiry of allotment) started from the ministers and MLAs and had “reached” officials also. As he referred to Manpreet Badal, who is now in BJP, and the letters written to him, Bajwa stood up and said, “Don’t write these many letters to him as he had suffered a heart attack.” Bajwa added that minister should avoid shooting off “sternly worded letters” to Manpreet.

To this, the minister said he did not want to raise the issue, but had to do so after a Congress legislator sought the details.

Bajwa said he backed Kohli who sought formation of flying squad at Chandigarh. He, however, added that the action should start from top.

“Rules and regulations are meant for even the most powerful people. It is not only meant for the commoners. It is meant for the top. At our time, to Amarinder Singh ji two (kothis were allotted), and four have been allotted to the incumbent. Otherwise entitlement is for only one. Guidelines and rules are same for every single person. And it is said always Caeser’s wife has to be above suspicion,” said Bajwa.

Reading from a list, Bajwa also referred to “kothi number 11, sector-7”, which he said had not been allotted as per norms as only a cabinet minister was entitled for the same. The kothi in question, he said, was given to “one of the OSDs working with a top officer”.

Bajwa added that four other kothis in sector 39 for which cabinet ministers had the entitlement were not allotted to the right persons.

Avtar Singh Junior questions increase in stamp duty

Congress legislator Avtar Singh Junior questioned imposition of two percent stamp duty on power of attorneys, saying NRIs would be worst hit, and 0.25 stamp duty on loans, saying “why Rs 1000 crore burden was being put on Punjabis?” Revenue minister Bram Shanker Sharma (Jimpa) said the two percent duty on power of attorneys would save NRIs from falling victim to frauds with transactions getting duly recorded with the government.

Similarly, Jimpa said stamp duty on loans would also serve the same purpose and prevent frauds. He said the revenue generated from the collection of said stamp duties would be used for the public welfare.

Restaurants fined 4.31 crore for adulteration

Various courts in Punjab have fined food operators to the tune of more than Rs 4.31 crore since Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in Punjab in 2022 till January this year as 2733 food samples out of 15335 were found non-conforming to the criteria laid down in the Food Safety and Standards Act – 2006 (Regulations-2011).

In a reply to calling attention notice by AAP legislator Devinder Singh Laddi Dhose, Punjab sports minister on the behalf of health minister Balbir Singh, told the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Monday that Food Safety Wing of Punjab government collected 8211 samples in 2022, out of which 1690 samples were found non-conforming to the criteria laid down in the Act.

“Cases with failed samples are launched in the court. During the year 2022, a total of 1362 cases were decided by the respective courts and fines were imposed by various courts on food business operators amounting to Rs.1,81,73,300. Apart from this, a total of 6665 samples were taken in the year 2023, out of which 955 samples were found non-conforming as per the criteria laid down in the Act.

Cases with failed samples were launched in the courts. During the year 2023, various courts have imposed fines amounting to Rs. 2,34,50,034/- on food business operators while settling 1511 cases out of old and new cases.

During the month of January 2024, a total of 469 samples were taken, out of which 88 samples were found non-conforming as per the standards prescribed under the Act. Even during January-2024, the courts have settled a total of 89 of the old cases and fined a total of Rs.15,35,400/- on the food business operators,” said Meet Hayer.

He pointed out, “As per regulation 2.3.5 of The Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition and restriction on sales) Regulations-2011 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. 2006, any food business operator is prohibited from selling fruit cooked in an unnatural manner.”

Hayer noted, “The Food Safety Teams in the State of Punjab periodically conduct sampling of shops of food business operators dealing in food business including confectioners, hotels, restaurants, grocery shops, dairies etc. and sample failure/legal action is taken against them as per the provisions made in the Act.”

MLA Dhose demanded enactment of strict legislation to check food adulteration. Dhose said merely imposing fine on those indulging in food adulteration was not enough. He demanded that those doing this malpractice should be booked under section like 302 (murder), as the adulteration was like committing “genocide”.