By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 23 Oct: Some important decisions were taken by the Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet during a meeting held at the Secretariat here today. As was being expected, the Cabinet approved a proposal for promulgation of the Uttarakhand Special Provisions Amendment Ordinance 2024 for Municipal Bodies. This ordinance will be brought to extend the existing protection of the slum colonies in the state from demolition for another three years. This provides interim relief to the slum dwellers in the state.
It may be recalled that the National Green Tribunal and the Uttarakhand High Court had ordered demolition of all slum colonies located around the banks of rivers in the year 2018. Since then, the government has been promulgating ordinances to save the slums from demolition and this period was ending today. Now that the Cabinet has approved extension of the ordinance for another three years, slum colonies can be considered to be safe for another three years.
Yet another important decision of the state cabinet is the approval of a proposal to levy tax on using ground water and spring water in the state. At present, there is a provision to charge a fee for using surface water only. Now a fee will have to be paid for using ground water and spring water. For this, water tax rates will also be determined soon.
In all, a total of 30 proposals were approved today at the cabinet meeting. One significant decision which will boost the income of farmers engaged in animal husbandry in remote areas of the state is that, now, the ITBP will procure mutton, sheep meat, chicken and fish from the local farmers in three districts of the state, namely Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh. A proposal for supply of these items to ITBP battalions in these districts was approved. Under this decision, the local farmers will provide meat to the ITBP. The cabinet proposal claims that this will lead to a trade of around Rs 200 crores for the farmers in the hills. However, in view of the difference in the rates between the supplies from local farmers and from outside the state, the government has also approved creation of a fund of Rs 4 crores to cover this gap. Apart from this, the cabinet also approved another fund of Rs 5 crores to promote this project.
The cabinet also approved another important decision to extend the facility of 3 free LPG cylinder refills every year to economically weaker sections of society under Chief Minister’s Free Gas Refill Scheme for another period of 3 years. The cabinet also approved amendments to the Uttarakhand Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Distribution Rules. As per the amendment approved, financial assistance and the benefits of the Ayushman scheme will be made available simultaneously now to the victim or the family.
The Dhami cabinet also approved a proposal to grant the facility of free bus travel in Uttarakhand Transport Corporation to soldiers and their spouses who have been awarded gallantry medals like Shaurya, Kirti or Veer Chakra.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to prorogue the state assembly session. It was also decided to lease about 358 square metres of land in the premises of the Civil Court, Vikas Nagar, to the Pachhwa Doon Bar Association at the rate of one rupee for the next 30 years to build advocates’ chambers.
It was decided to create a post of Deputy Drugs Controller in the Food Conservation and Drugs Administration Department. The cabinet approved a proposal for amendment in the Uttarakhand General Provident Fund Rules. As per the amendment, now a total amount of up to only Rs 5 lakh will be permitted to be deposited in the General Provident Fund (GPF) in a financial year. Amendment was approved in the rules regarding all the cadres of Uttarakhand Medical Education Department.
A proposal was presented before the cabinet that the Civil Aviation Department has demanded 8,092 square metres of land from the state government to build a heliport in SIDCUL, Haridwar. The cabinet authorised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take a final decision in this respect. In addition, approval was given by the cabinet to create 17 posts in UK SPISE (Uttarakhand Society for Promotion of Investment Startup Entrepreneurship). The cabinet also approved a proposal that five meritorious students from among the students studying in Higher Education Department will be given the facility to study in the United Kingdom (UK).
Approval was granted by the cabinet to promulgate the Uttarakhand (Uttar Pradesh Municipality Decentralised Retirement Benefits) Amendment Rules. Amendments were also approved in the structure of Uttarakhand State Seed and Organic Production Certificate Agency. The Cabinet also approved constitution of a Seeds Committee of State Water and Sanitation Mission.