By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 12 Feb: An important pre-budget session Cabinet meeting was held here on Wednesday in which, about 33 proposals were given a nod by the Cabinet. The most important proposal was related to the annual State Budget to be presented in the coming Budget session of the State Assembly beginning from February 18. The Cabinet approved the budget proposals submitted by the Finance department and sources indicated that the Cabinet approved the State annual Budget for the Financial Year 2025-26 amounted to around Rs 1 lakh crore. In addition, several ordinances to be presented in the House during the upcoming session of the state assembly were also given the green signal by the Cabinet.
Important decisions approved by the Cabinet include approval of the ropeway projects for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib. These proposals would now be sent to the Central government. The Cabinet also sanctioned a proposal to grant an amount of Rs 30,000 crore to the Van Panchayats (Forest Panchayats) for prevention and control of forest fires. This proposal would also be sent to the Centre for financial sanction of the Centre.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for grant of free land to the Sainik Kalyan (Welfare) Department. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to declare SIDCUL land in Khurpiya Farm as residential. Proposal for amendments in organisational structure of the State Election Commission was also approved. The organisational structure of the Election Department will also be reorganised. In addition, annual reports of several departments were presented before the cabinet and the Cabinet approved their tabling in the House.
In another decision, the Cabinet decided to increase the pension of former MLAs from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month and also increased the annual increment in the pension for MLAs by Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. This decision was taken after the summer Assembly session in Gairsain, where MLAs had demanded a salary hike. The Dhami Cabinet agreed on the proposal to increase the pension for former MLAs, with a yearly increase of Rs 3,000. Additionally, the fuel allowance given to MLAs for attending House proceedings has also been increased.
Though, there were expectations that the Cabinet meeting may also approve a draft land law bill to be tabled in the House during the upcoming session, no discussion on land laws was actually held during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The Cabinet also approved budget proposals and road safety rules. In view of increasing road accidents in Uttarakhand, the Transport Department has prepared a road safety policy, which was given a nod by the Cabinet. After the Cabinet meeting, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal stated that more than 33 proposals were discussed. He confirmed that the budget proposals for the financial year 2025-26 were approved. He also stated that to prevent forest fires, work would be done in collaboration with Gram Panchayats, Yuvak Mangal Dals, Mahila Mangal Dals, and employees of the Forest and Revenue Departments. He further confirmed that the cabinet approved the proposals for ropeways in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib under the Tourism Department and provided free land for the Sainik Welfare Department. Uniyal added that consensus was also reached on proposals related to tourism, Industry, Housing, and Energy departments.
