CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet has approved a proposal empowering the government to impose charges on illegally occupied land designated for village common roads and watercourses.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that many panchayat paths and watercourses have been encroached upon by real estate developers and individuals. “We will form price fixation committees, led by the relevant deputy commissioners, to collect payments from those currently occupying the land. Revenue generated will be shared between the local body or panchayat and the state government,” he added.
An amendment to the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, will facilitate this initiative. The land in question is state-owned, and this move aims to regularize the encroachments. Alternative paths will also be provided in locations where none currently exist.
The Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, coupled with the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, oversees the management and utilization of village common land, known as shamlat deh, within Punjab. This legislation is aimed at protecting these lands for the communal benefit of village residents.
Amendment to the Right to Business Act
Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora indicated that the cabinet has chosen to amend the Right to Business Act for quicker industry approvals. “Additionally, approvals from the labor department, factory licenses, and requisite consents from the pollution control and forest departments have been incorporated,” he noted.
NIA Court in Mohali
The cabinet also sanctioned the establishment of a specialized NIA court in Mohali to hasten trial proceedings. This court will appoint a district and sessions judge or an additional judge to oversee its operations. It will have the authority to adjudicate cases from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and other special cases.
One-Time Settlement for Millers
An OTS policy for rice mills was also approved by the cabinet, obliging each miller to settle accounts with state procurement agencies following the milling period to qualify for paddy allocations for the next year. Many rice millers have previously failed to resolve their accounts, resulting in legal actions and prolonged court cases. This new OTS policy aims to alleviate this backlog.
Property Regulation Amendments
The cabinet has consented to amend Sections 5(1), 5(3)(ii), and 5(8) of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995. This amendment is intended to ensure the proper and planned development of colonies and areas, thus addressing issues faced by the public, as stated by an official spokesperson.
GST Amendment
The cabinet granted approval for an amendment to the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment Bill) 2025 to streamline tax compliance. This amendment will align the state’s regulations with the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, which was recently revised in accordance with the recommendations from the GST Council. Cheema announced that these amendments will be introduced in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.
