The Punjab Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here, discussed the prevailing situation regarding the supply of minor minerals, especially sand and gravel in the state.
To address the problem and ensure adequate supply of these materials at reasonable rates, the Cabinet sub-committee was constituted and it would submit its comprehensive report in this regard, an official spokesman said here.
With restrictions on mining in neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan, the prices of sand, gravel and bricks have gone up by 20-30 per cent in the past few months.
It was also decided in the meeting that all the Cabinet Ministers would voluntarily offer to forego 10 per cent of their monthly allowances as a part of austerity measures.
This decision would also be applicable to all the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries of the state, the spokesman said.
The Cabinet further approved the conversion of the Punjab Municipal (Amendment) Ordinance 2012, Punjab Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 and Punjab Municipal Fund (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 into Bills for its enactment in the forthcoming budget session of the state assembly to legislate the abolition of Octroi on petrol and diesel within the Municipal limits of the urban areas. (more)