Punjab Cabinet meeting: Each of 117 Assembly segments to receive Rs 5-crore development fund

Indian Express

25-04-2025

All 117 Assembly segments in Punjab will get Rs 5 crore every fiscal for development works after the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, approved the guidelines of the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme on Thursday.
A Chief Minister's Office spokesperson said, 'Under the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme, funds are provided for important everyday local development needs of the people across districts. An allocation worth Rs 585 crore has been made under the scheme in FY 2025-26. These funds, administered by the Deputy Commissioners, will be spent based on recommendations of MLAs, community organisations, citizen groups and public-spirited citizens. The works recommended/ proposed will be approved as per the guidelines of the scheme.'
The state government had in the last budget set aside Rs 585 crore on lines of the MPLAD fund, but it will not be given directly to MLAs. The Deputy Commissioners will spend the funds on the recommendations of MLAs and other personalities.
'The approval will be given by the District Level Committee constituted under the chairpersonship of the Deputy Commissioner, with the concurrence of the minister in-charge for the district, as appointed by the Chief Minister. Subsequently, the District Level Committee will get the work executed by the appropriate authority and ensure proper supervision and timely completion. The Deputy Commissioner will be competent to accord administrative and financial sanctions for the approved works,' the spokesperson said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been a votary of the MLALAD fund, but the fund-crunched government was unable to set aside the amount. However, the fund was set aside in the last budget, but it will not go to MLAs.
The decision also came eyeing the 2027 Assembly elections.
The AAP government has two years left in office, so it will be able to release Rs 5 crore for each Assembly segment for two fiscal years only.
Nod to third-party certification/self-certification for approval of building plans of factories
The Cabinet also gave its approval to third-party certification/self-certification for the approval of building plans of the factories.
'As per the Factory Act, 1948, the building plan of any factory was approved as per the building by-laws and the Factory Act. Due to this process, a lot of time, money and energy were wasted in the approval process. When any factory is established outside the municipal limits then the labour department passes these plans. To streamline this process, the Cabinet has given a nod to introduce the provision of third-party certification/self-certification under which the building plans can be approved by architects in consonance with the building's by-laws,' the spokesperson said.
'These plans will be further approved by the labour department, as per this certification, and based on re-verification of conformity to the land use/master plan, ground coverage, setbacks, overall height of the building and width of the road on which the site is situated, consent/undertaking to allow widening of the road and parking. The plans will be passed as earlier according to the Factory Act, but the move will facilitate the investors and reduce the period of clearing the plans from 45 days to 30 days,' the spokesman added.
Appellate authority for PSIEC's cancelled plots
The Cabinet also gave its consent to constitute an appellate authority for the cancelled plots of the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC).
'The appellate authority will be constituted so that those facing cancellations could go in an appeal to reclaim cancelled plots due to various reasons in PSIEC. The appellate mechanism will address the long-pending cases of allottees and also address the demands of various associations. It will also decrease the litigations between the government, PSIEC and allottees,' the spokesperson said.
'This policy will take effect from the date of notification by the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, with a deadline of September 30, 2025, for appeals related to existing cancellations or six months from the date of cancellation for fresh cases. It aims to establish a structured, transparent and efficient mechanism for filing, reviewing and deciding appeals against the cancellation of plots by the PSIEC, ensuring compliance with legal principles, including audi alteram partem (right to be heard), and fostering stakeholder confidence,' the spokesperson said.
Any plot holder whose plot was cancelled (except those already resumed or re-allotted by the PSIEC) upon substantiation of their claim with relevant documents or evidence.
Applicants shall submit a written appeal in the prescribed format (Format-A) either physically or via email to [e-mail].
The appeal must be submitted by 30.09.2025 for already cancelled plots and within six months from the date of cancellation orders for future cases.
Delays may be condoned by the BOD in exceptional circumstances with valid reasons.
Nod to shift villages
Facilitating the people of eight villages, including Manakpura, Khera Gajju, Urna, Changeera, Uccha Khera, Gurditpura, Haripura and Lehlan, the Cabinet gave the nod to transfer them from Sub-Division/ Tehsil Rajpura (Patiala) to Sub-Division/ Tehsil Banur (SAS Nagar).