Chandigarh: The Punjab Government on Monday announced a Diwali bonanza for its employees and pensioners by deciding to give them an 11% hike in their Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees. Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, who addressed a press conference on Monday evening, said Rs 440 crore has been earmarked for release every month to pay DA. He said 11% of the total 14% DA will be released in instalments. “It’s a Diwali gift for people of Punjab,” the chief minister added. The government would continue to ensure that the employees and pensioners get their due, irrespective of the state’s fiscal situation, he added.
Rs 3,316 crore will be spent per year on power subsidies, Mr Channi said. “Punjab already bears Rs 10,628 crores on power subsidy and now total subsidy is Rs 14,000 crores, which is 7 times than what Delhi spends on the same. Delhi spends Rs. 2,200 crores,” he stated. Punjab Vidhan Sabha session will reconsider PPAs with private generators in the forthcoming session,” Channi added.
The cabinet has decided to slash power tariff by Rs 3 across slabs. He further mentioned that Rs 1.19 will be the new rate for small consumers. “It will be implemented from today,” he added. There are a total of 72 lakh consumers in the state. “Creamy layer of 5% will not be included in this,” he said. Channi further added that it will make the cheapest power tariff in Punjab in the entire country.