CHANDIGARH; Punjab cabinet which met here Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal gave green signal to impose a 4% entry tax on sugar imported from outside the state of Punjab. The move is aimed at safeguarding the interest of local sugar industries.  

Likewise the Cabinet also approved to amend Punjab Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2000, in case of sugar imported from outside the state of Punjab. 

The Cabinet also gave its nod to impose entry tax on iron and steel including scrap, dyes & chemicals and all types of yarn, partially oriented yarn, fiber, top and chips @ 4% thereby bringing an amendment in the Punjab Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2000.

The Cabinet also approved to amend the Punjab Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1964 (for brick earth and ordinary earth minerals only) by incorporating rules 24, 25, 26, 27 and form K.  Likewise, the Cabinet also   decided to allow the brick industry of the state to pay VAT on lump sum basis on the pattern of the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.   It may be recalled that the brick industry in Punjab was paying lump sum tax for many years prior to the introduction of VAT w.e.f April 1, 2005. 

In another significant decision, the cabinet approved the establishment of State level Institute to impart security relating training to unemployed youth of the state for their absorption in Private Security Agencies.   A special body called the 'Punjab Police Security Corporation' as a subsidiary of the Punjab Police Housing Corporation would be set up for providing security training to unemployed youth of the state to enable them to get employment.   

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as applicable to the state of Punjab to permit the use of video conferencing for production of accused before a magistrate and recording of evidence.

In another significant decision,  the Cabinet also approved the draft of a new Bill for Police Reforms, in view of the Judgment of the Supreme Court in writ petition (Civil) No.310 of 1996 filed by Mr. Parkash Singh, IPS retired & others Vs. Union of India & others and approved promulgation of Ordinance related to the draft Punjab Police Bill, 2007.    

The Cabinet also approved the setting up of district consumer forms in the newly created districts of SAS Nagar (Mohali), Tarn Taran and Barnala under section 9 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.  

The Cabinet also approved the administrative report of the registration wing of the department of Revenue for the year 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.  Besides the cabinet also approved the annual administrative report of the department of Social Security and Development of Women & Children for the year 2002-03, 2003-04 and the annual administrative report of the Pushpa Gujral Science City Society and commercial wing of the Transport Department for the year 2004-05.

The Punjab Government also decided to set up 2748 new Anganwadi Centres in the state. The Centres would be spread across all 148 blocks of Punjab.

The cabinet also approved the setting up of a special cell for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) at Tarn Taran.    

A spokesman of the Punjab Government said that the main objective of the scheme was to ensure all round development of women in the age group of 15-45 years and children of 0-6 years by providing services of pre school education, immunization, health check up, referral services, nutrition & health education and supplementary nutrition.