Joshi cornered; CLU fee exempted five years ago, says government
Thursday, 07/08/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140807/punjab.htm#4
Chandigarh : The state government today claimed that the change of land use (CLU) fee was exempted five years ago. A government spokesman said that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had exempted the fee in the industrial policy: 2009. He said the Department of Industries was then under Manoranjan Kalia.
Minister for Local Bodies Anil Joshi had announced yesterday that he had decided to exempt the CLU fee to give a push to development as demanded by traders. He had said that the decision would be implemented after the byelections in the state.
Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had questioned the decision, maintaining that it was to be routed through the Finance Department.
The government spokesperson said the authority for change of land use (CLU) was always with the Housing Department and it was the Deputy CM who had delegated this power to the Local Bodies Department.
Without blaming Joshi, he said confusion had been created on the exemption given to hospitals and hotels. He said in view of the global meltdown, recession and in order to spur industrial growth, it had been decided that no CLU charges should be levied on the industries in Punjab. Subsequently, hospitals and hotels were declared ‘industry’ and these were exempted from CLU charges.
He said the Department of Housing and Urban Development had implemented this policy decision vide its notification (17/17/01-5HG2/1638) dated June 18, 2009. In pursuance of the policy decision, the Department of Local Government too would not levy CLU charges on hospitals, hotels and industries in the municipal limits.
Shanta Kumar seeks co-ordination panel
The differences between the BJP and the SAD are increasing. Both have been assuming different positions on public issues. Shanta Kumar, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to immediately form a co-ordination committee to iron out “small” irritants.
