The Amritsar Culture and Tourism Development Punjab Act

(1) This Act may be called the Amritsar Culture and Tourism Development Authority Act, 2016. (2) It shall come into force on and with effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Authority" means the Amritsar Culture and Tourism Development Authority; (b) "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee constituted under section 5; (c) "Fund" means the fund of the Authority; (d) "Government" means the Government of the State of Punjab in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs; (e) "prescribed" means prescribed by the rules made under this Act; (f) "regulations" means regulations made by the Authority under this Act; (g) "specified areas" means areas specified under section 3; and (h) "Tourism Police" means the Tourism Police referred in section 6.

(1) This Act shall apply within the radius of 500 meters to 750 meters, as may be specified by the Authority with regard to the following heritage, tourism and cultural sites in Amritsar, namely:- (i) Sri Golden Temple; (ii) Sri Durgiana Mandir; (iii) Ram Tirath Mandir; (iv) Gobindgarh Fort; (v) Town Hall; (vi) Panorama; and (vii) Urban Haat. (2) It shall also apply to the following, namely:- (i) Facades of all buildings; and (ii) Roads, Round-abouts and Street Furniture (Town Hall to Golden Temple and Exit). (3) It shall also apply to the following services, namely:- (i) Hop on Hop off Bus Service; and (ii) Amphibious Bus Service. (4) The Government may by notification, from time to time, add any other site/services/structures.

(1) There shall be an Authority to be called the Amritsar Culture and Tourism Development Authority for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) The Authority shall be competent to undertake works in the specified areas. (3) The Authority shall consist of,- (a) Chief Minister, Punjab: Chairman; (b) Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab: Co-Chairman; (c) Minister, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab: Member; (d) Minister, Local Government, Punjab: Member; (e) Chief Secretary to Government, Punjab: Member; (f) Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Finance: Member; (g) Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Local Government: Member; (h) Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Punjab: Member; (i) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs: Member; (j) Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab: Member; (k) Secretary, Public Relations, Punjab: Member; (l) Technical Advisor to Chief Minister, Punjab: Member; and (m) Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs: Member-Secretary. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Authority shall not interfere in any manner with the powers and functions of other local authorities in the matters such as levying of taxes, cess etc. (5) The Government may by notification induct or remove or nominate any other member in the Authority by assigning the reason thereof.

There shall be an Executive Committee to discharge day to day work of the Authority. The Executive Committee shall consist of,- (i) Chief Executive Officer: Chairperson; (ii) Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned: Member; (iii) Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab: Member; and (iv) Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar: Member-Secretary.

There shall be a Tourism Police, to be provided by the Department of Home Affairs, for providing safety, security and render assistance to the tourists visiting the specified areas.

The Authority shall be responsible for,- (i) Planning, coordination and implementation of all activities, events, virtual reality shows, live performances etc., projects and other matters incidental therewith for management, maintenance, marketing and operation of the specified areas; (ii) Operation and maintenance of sanitation work in the specified areas; (iii) Operation and maintenance of facade of buildings near Golden Temple and regulatory control of facades in the specified areas; (iv) Operation and maintenance of lighting in the specified areas; (v) Operation and maintenance of overall infrastructure in the specified areas; (vi) Upkeep and maintenance of all civic facilities in the specified areas; (vii) Undertaking overall comprehensive development, including holding of conferences and seminars and all functions, as may be necessary to promote tourism and increase tourist footfall; (viii) Enter into an agreement with any individual, NGO, Agency or body, as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions after following the due process, as may be specified by the Government from time to time; and (ix) Any other activity as the Authority may decide to take up from time to time in the interest of promotion of tourism.

To carry out the activities of the Authority, the fund would be provided by the State Government out of the cess collected under the Excise Policy of the State Government or any other source, as may be prescribed.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Government, create such posts and appoint such officers and other employees, as it may consider necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions.

Any person who destroys, defaces, removes, injures, litters or imperils the specified areas shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to Rs. 5,000, or with both: Provided that the offences under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 and the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 or any other Act, as may be applicable to the specified areas, shall be dealt with under the respective Acts.

(1) The Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) Every rule made under this section, shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before the House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of ten days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the successive sessions as aforesaid, the House agrees in making any modification in the rule or the House agrees that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, however, any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

The Authority may, with the previous approval of the Government, make regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder, for carrying out the purposes of this Act.