Farm policy: Panel to look at draft for ‘implications’

CHANDIGARH: A sub-committee of the Punjab cabinet, or council of ministers, will examine the proposed farmers' policy of the state because some of its provisions can have "political implications". Chief minister Amarinder Singh decided this on Tuesday.
In its meeting here, the cabinet "informally" discussed the draft policy - which, among other things, proposes to restrict power subsidy to farmers who don't pay income tax.The council also formed a cabinet sub-committee to examine the proposed Punjab Land Leasing and Tenancy Bill, 2019. Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal will head this panel. The cabinet took other decisions too: it gave a go-ahead to tabling the legislation on Punjab sports university in the state assembly during the monsoon session and okayed laws to encourage agro-forestry.
The draft of farm policy, which was submitted in June 2018, was expected to be tabled in assembly last year, but the government dithered on it. The CM said he had seen the draft and, in view of possible "political implications" of some of its provisions, the sub-committee should examine it. The cabinet authorized him to do so.
As per the draft, power subsidy should be stopped for farmers with other sources of income. Punjab's power subsidy bill for agriculture is around Rs 6,000 crore. Also, the policy makes a case for cutting the use of agro-chemicals by 10% every year.
Ministers Aruna Chaudhary and Gurpreet Singh Kangar will be part of the sub-committee on land leasing and tenancy bill. Punjab Revenue Commission, headed by Justice S S Saron (retd), proposed the bill to repeal six existing tenancy laws and bring in reforms in leasing agricultural land. The bill aims to strike a balance between the rights and responsibilities of landowners and tenants and provide a process for resolving disputes.
Discussing the sports university, the cabinet decided to name it 'Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Sports and Science University', after the CM's grandfather and in recognition of his contribution to sports. Though the CM objected to the name, the cabinet overruled him. Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi suggested the name. The cabinet on June 6 approved the Punjab Sports University Ordinance 2019, paving way for establishing the varsity.
The varsity's academic session will start from September 1, as decided by its steering committee. T he cabinet also gave its nod to The Punjab Forest Produce Transit Rules, 2018, and The Punjab Regulation of Wood-Based Industries Rules, 2019, to improve agro-forestry activities. Now, timber units using agro-forestry species will not require a licence and will only have to register themselves with the forest department. The amendments were made as farmers who were growing bamboo on their land and selling its wood outside the state, had been facing problem in inter-state movement of their produce.
The cabinet also cleared 'The Punjab Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2019' to give a push to promote diversification of agriculture. Now, no new timber unit would be granted licence for operations within one-kilometre aerial distance of notified government block forests, protected areas, protected forests and un-classed forests in the state, except if located within a notified industrial estate, park or municipal area. The state government will also levy a green fee of Rs 10 per cubic metre on timber units.