In a move to discourage drinking the Punjab Cabinet,under the new excise policy for 2012-13,has decided to open the liquor vends across the state at 9 am and close by 10 pm. Earlier,the vends used to open at 7 am and close at 11 pm. In another development,bakery products are set to be costlier as state would now levy lumpsum tax on bakery items. The tax would be levied on the basis of the annual turnover according to the prescribed slabs. There would be no tax liability in case of the bakery having turnover up to No tax would be levied on less than Rs 10 lakh of turnover of a bakery unit. Rs 25,000 would be imposed on bakery units having sales turnover between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh,Rs 50,000 on sales between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 50 lakh,Rs 75,000 on sales between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 75 lakh and Rs one lakh between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore. Bakery units having a turnover of above Rs1 crore would be liable to pay tax on the actual basis,he said. The decision to impose lumpsum tax on bakery units having turnover less than Rs.1 crore would benefit nearly 3,500 dealers in the state. A decision to this effect was taken by state cabinet in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Other major cabinet decisions Sub-panel to look into staff issues The cabinet also approved constitution of a cabinet sub-committee to look into the pending demands and issues related to various employees organizations. The sub-committee had been asked to submit its report by October 30 so that the final decision for the implementation of employees demands on the basis of the recommendations of the sub-committee could be taken by the cabinet. 2,369 forest posts The cabinet also gave approval to revive the prescribed cadre of 2,369 posts in 48 categories aimed at restructuring and re-constitution of Forests and Wild Life Preservation department,of which 603 posts would be filled in a phased manner during two years. Nearly 242 posts would be filled during the current fiscal and the remaining 361 posts in 2012-13. Rs 1 cr for Gurdwara The cabinet also approved to release a sum of Rs1 crore for extension of Langar Hall building in Sri Harimandir Sahib,Amritsar,under the scheme PM-10 State Level Initiatives (Punjab Nirman Programme) during 2011-12. It also approved to exempt the entry tax imposed on the construction material and food items for devotees,procured from outside Punjab in the Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Motor tax The cabinet also approved new rates of motor vehicle tax for four-wheeled personal vehicles in different slabs as per the actual price of the vehicle. For personal four-wheeled motor vehicles costing up to Rs 5 lakh,the rate of motor vehicle tax would be 2 per cent of the actual price of the motor vehicle (excluding taxes if any) in lumpsum. Likewise,the rate of motor vehicle tax would be 4 per cent,6 per cent and 8 per cent of the actual price of the motor vehicle in lumpsum having actual price of four-wheeled personalized vehicles exceeding Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs10 lakh,exceeding Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh and exceeding Rs 20 lakh respectively. For colleges The cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to all the Registrar of Private Universities and Principals of the Private Colleges or Institutes affiliated to the Universities duly approved by the University Grants Commission as the Licensing Authority for the purpose of issuing of learners licenses to the students of their respective colleges or institutes. It may be recalled that the state government had already notified all the principals of the colleges or institutes affiliated to the universities duly approved by the University Grants Commission as the Licensing Authority for the purpose of issuing learners license to the students of their respective colleges or institutes. New sub-tehsils The Cabinet also approved to upgrade the towns of Kot Isse Khan and Goniana Mandi in Moga and Bathinda districts as the new sub tehsils besides giving nod for the creation of requisite staff in the newly created sub-tehsils. Tax on lottery The cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to levying of tax at the rate of Rs15 lakh per draw on the fortnightly lottery of the state lotteries department. Royalty restored It also gave nod to restore the payment of royalty on the ordinary earth which had been stopped earlier under the Punjab Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1964. 19 new posts The Cabinet also approved to create 19 new posts including nine of professors,six associate professors and four assistant professors in the Government Medical College,Patiala,under the scheme 'strengthening and upgradation of state Government Medical Colleges for starting new Post Graduate disciplines and increasing PG seats by central funding during the 11 th Plan period. Land for BISA The Cabinet also approved to allot 500 acres of available land at Ladowal farm in district Ludhiana to the department of Agriculture,Research and Education Ministry,for the establishment of Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA).
