DW BUREAU / chandigarh The Punjab Cabinet gave approval to regularize the services of those safai sewaks and sewermen working on contract basis in the Urban Local Bodies before Cabinet's decision on June 18, 2021. This decision would benefit 4587 employees to uplift the standard of living of their families. Notably, with the regularization of services of these employees the additional annual financial burden during the first three years of probation would be approximately Rs. 46 crore. After the probation period, annual increment and other allowances would be paid. This additional financial burden would be borne by the Urban Local Bodies. In a bid to promote Punjabi language across the state, the Cabinet also has decided to implement the requisite qualification of Punjabi language for direct recruitment in the boards, corporations, commissions, authorities, parastatals etc. along with all the departments in the letter and spirit. The Cabinet also directed all the departments, boards, corporations, authorities, parastatals etc. to immediately amend its service rules so as to make provision of knowledge of Punjabi language compulsory under section 17 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994. In a bid to extend a major relief to the people across the state, the Cabinet also decided to waive the arrears of outstanding water bills worth Rs 500 crore. Notably, as per the decision taken by the government, the amount of arrears waived of water bill of rural consumers of schemes run by the Water Supply and Sanitation Department is Rs 256.97 crore and apart from this Rs 17.98 crore has been waived for schemes run by department in urban areas. Also, the amount waived for the schemes run by the Gram Panchayats/Committees amounts to Rs 224.55 crore. It may be recalled that Water Supply and Sanitation department is providing potable water to the people in rural areas of Punjab and in selected cities of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Faridkot and Civil Station Bathinda. As per the decision taken by Water Supply and Sanitation Committees, the outstanding water bills of the schemes managed by the department/panchayats and committees stand waived. Requisite payment will be made to DWSS/GPs/GPWSCs by government to offset the loss in revenue recovery so that there is no adverse impact on the maintenance of the schemes. In a major relief to the cotton growers across the state, the Cabinet also accorded approval to extend the value of relief for 76-100 per cent loss of cotton crop, a value of Rs 5000 per acre has been added to the current value of Rs. 12000 per acre making it to Rs. 17000 per acre. By taking this measure, the affected farmers would be able to get a reasonable financial relief from the government. These relief rates will be effective from June 1, 2021. Notably, a relief worth Rs. 416 crore has been provided to the farmers affected by the damage caused to the cotton crop by the pink bollworm (pest attack). In a bid to regularise un-authorized colonies and plots of those colonies, which were made in violation of Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPR) Act, 1995, the Cabinet decided to introduce a rule under section 38(2) prescribing conditions and restrictions for compounding of offence under the said Act. Notably, timeline was fixed for these Acts and Policies under these Acts to regularise colonies & plots of these colonies. After expiry of these acts and policies under the Act, the Housing & Urban Development department proposes to insert rule no 31 in the PAPR, 1995 prescribing procedure and conditions and restrictions for compounding of an offence under Section 38(2) of said Act. (editor@dailyworld.in)