The North Newss
Chandigarh, December 20
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved amendments to key laws and policies aimed at speeding up property ownership processes, easing conditions for industry, and sharpening its political response to proposed changes in a major rural jobs scheme.
At a meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday, ministers cleared amendments to the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Act, 2021, to shorten timelines for objections and appeals under the state’s ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ scheme. The move is intended to accelerate the resolution of disputes and provide quicker relief to residents seeking ownership rights.
Under the proposed changes, Section 11 of the Act will be amended to allow the government to notify time limits, replacing fixed periods currently set at 90 days for filing objections and 60 days for their disposal. The Cabinet plans to reduce both stages to 30 days. A similar amendment to Section 12(4) will halve the time allowed for disposing of appeals, from 60 days to 30.
The Cabinet also approved what it described as a landmark amendment to the Industrial and Business Development Policy (IBDP) 2022, removing the requirement for bank guarantees to access fiscal incentives. Industry groups had argued that the guarantees were locking up working capital and restricting expansion, research and job creation.
Under the revised framework, incentives such as exemption from stamp duty will instead be secured through a first charge on the relevant property until commercial production begins. For change-of-land-use and external development charge exemptions, a new mechanism will replace bank guarantees. The changes will apply retrospectively from 17 October 2022, the policy’s effective date.
In a separate decision, ministers approved the redistribution of land belonging to the former Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant in Bathinda, transferred to the Housing and Urban Development Department. Ten acres will be allocated for a battery energy storage system under Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, another ten acres retained for a proposed new bus stand, and the remaining land earmarked for residential and commercial development.
The Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties Rules, 2021, to revise payment schedules for high-value “chunk sites” sold by urban local bodies. The government said the changes would widen the pool of bidders, intensify competition and attract larger investments in urban development.
Finally, ministers agreed to convene a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 30 December to discuss amendments proposed by the Union government to the MGNREGA. The Cabinet said the proposed changes go beyond renaming the scheme and risk undermining its core spirit.
