Transfer of land to Info Dept approved for Press Club
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Dec: The Uttarakhand Cabinet today held a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The cabinet approved a series of wide-ranging decisions covering clean energy promotion, relief measures for disaster-affected farmers, enhanced welfare for artists and writers, health sector reforms and simplification of administrative procedures. The government has claimed that the decisions reflect the state government’s focus on sustainable development and governance reforms. Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar and Additional Secretary and DG, Information, Banshidhar Tiwari briefed the media on the cabinet decisions.
In a significant step towards environmental protection and promotion of green and clean energy, the Cabinet today approved a substantial reduction in value added tax on natural gas from 20 per cent to 5 per cent. The government has claimed that the decision is expected to encourage the setting up of pollution-free industrial units under various development schemes, boost investor interest and strengthen revenue prospects while prioritising sustainable growth.
In another key decision, the Cabinet also endorsed the CM’s announcement regarding procurement of apples from disaster-affected areas of Dharali and adjoining regions in Uttarkashi district. In accordance with this decision, the Horticulture and Food Processing Department will procure Royal Delicious (a popular variety of apples) apples at Rs 51 per kilogram, while Red Delicious and other varieties will be purchased at Rs 45 per kilogram, excluding Grade-C produce. It was also decided that the expenditure for the procurement will be met from the CM’s Announcements head. It was also claimed that this will provide much-needed relief to orchardists affected by natural calamities.
In addition, the Cabinet approved an increase in the monthly pension for elderly and indigent artists and writers of the state. The pension amount, which had remained fixed at Rs 3000 since 2010, will now be doubled to Rs 6000 under the amended rules of 2025. It was also indicated that the decision has been taken into account the rise in inflation over the past decade. The decision seeks to support those who have played a vital role in preserving and promoting Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage, including folk arts, music, dance, traditional instruments and literature.
To further improve the business environment, the Cabinet also approved amendments in the building map approval process under the Government of India’s Ease of Doing Business framework. Low-risk buildings such as single residential houses and small commercial establishments will now be eligible for self-certification by empanelled architects. The builders will be required to submit SC-1 and SC-2 forms along with all relevant documents to the competent authority, certifying that the building plan has been self-certified as low-risk, with all prescribed fees duly paid.
The cabinet further approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand General Industrial Development Control (Amendment) Regulations, 2025. The amendments are ostensibly intended to reduce the compliance burden, enhancing ease of doing business and providing greater clarity in industrial land regulations, with revised provisions allowing increased ground coverage for MSME and industrial units.
The Cabinet further approved a proposal to restructure the organisational framework of the Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fibre Development Council. Thirteen permanent professional and technical posts created earlier will now be restructured to allow recruitment either from the open market or through outsourcing, keeping in view the requirement of specialised expertise under the changing circumstances.
Another important decision related to employee welfare involved the approval of counting work-charge service tenure of employees of the Irrigation and Public Works Departments (PWD) towards pension benefits. The Cabinet also resolved to operate the Ayushman and Atal Ayushman health schemes in the state under a 100 per cent insurance mode, while the Golden Card scheme will now operate under a hybrid model. Claims up to Rs 5 lakh will be settled under the insurance mode, while claims exceeding Rs 5 lakh will be processed through the trust mode. The state government will bear outstanding dues of around Rs 125 crore related to the Golden Card.
The Uttarakhand Medical Education Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025 were also approved by the cabinet today. The age limit for appointment of Professors and Associate Professors has been raised from 50 to 62 years. In line with new National Medical Commission norms, departments for super-speciality services have been created, and four posts have been sanctioned for the Swami Ram Cancer Institute at Haldwani.
The Cabinet decided to refer the issue of granting equal pay for equal work to 277 contractual, daily wage, fixed-pay and management committee employees at Government Medical College, Srinagar, to a sub-committee of the Council of Ministers for a detailed examination.
In order to ensure the availability of specialist doctors in hill and remote areas, the Cabinet approved an additional allowance equivalent to 50 per cent of the minimum pay level in the salary matrix. This allowance will be admissible only to doctors engaged in clinical work in such areas and will not be included for pensionary benefits after retirement. The earlier provision of 20 per cent allowance on basic pay under the government order dated 19 September 2014 will now stand discontinued and the doctors posted in plain areas will not be entitled to the new benefit.
In addition, Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram informed media that the CM has approved the transfer of land at Parade Ground, Dehradun, to the Information Department for construction of a new Press Club building. The existing Press Club is presently located on Nazul land, which has led to difficulties in obtaining map approval for the construction. Following the land transfer, the Information Department will now undertake construction of the new building.
