Chandigarh, March 7: The Punjab Cabinet will take a call on clearing the affordable housing scheme for the lower income groups and approve the new excise policy for 2018-19 in its meeting on Wednesday.
To give a final shape to the excise policy, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh chaired a meeting of the Excise Department this evening. Sources said it was being proposed to give more powers to the excise inspectors to check the pilferage of country liquor from distilleries, especially those controlled by politicians.
In the wake of Haryana increasing its liquor quota, the state too proposes to increase its enforcement, anticipating the inflow of liquor from the neighbouring state. “Since Punjab is proposing to bring down the quota for IMFL and country liquor, it anticipates influx of liquor from Haryana,” said an officer.
Under the proposed affordable housing policy, the Housing and Urban Planning Department is expected to offer major concessions to the developers offering affordable houses to the needy.
A minimum of 5 acres for setting up an affordable colony in all master plans of the state except Mohali and New Chandigarh was being proposed.Besides discussing the issue of regularising the services of 22,000 employees, the Cabinet is expected to recommend the start of the Budget session from March 19.
Source Tribune India
