The Yogi government rescinded three decisions of the previous Samajwadi Party regime, including the controversial Uttar Pradesh Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill-2015 which entailed curtailing the power of Mayors, saying that such draconian act was not required in Uttar Pradesh. The other Acts which were repealed include curtailing the speed limit of vehicles and granting government aid to seven non-aided schools.
These decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting which also gave its assent to providing government jobs to one of the family members of martyred Army, Navy, Air Force and Para-military personnel.
Government spokesman Shrikant Sharma said that the cabinet decided to repeal Uttar Pradesh Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill-2015 as it was in contravention to 74 the Amendment of Indian Constitution and the spirit of devolution of power. The controversial Bill was passed by both Houses of the state legislature but Governor Ram Naik did not give his assent and it was sent to President of India for legal scrutiny.
The controversial UP Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill-2015 gave power to state government to remove Mayors and advocated curtailing powers of local bodies. It also spoke on enhancing financial powers of Chairman of Nagar Palika and Nagar Panchayat. The said Bill also talked about merger of UP Nagar Nigam Act-1959 and UP Nagar Palika Act-1916.
“The Yogi government decided to repeal it because of the controversy it generated and protests lodged by Mayoral Council,” Sharma, who is also Power minister in the BJP government, said.
The other two Acts which the Yogi cabinet repealed include the previous government’s decision of February 16, 2016, where speed limit device were proposed. For this a consultant Delhi Integrated Multi-model Transit System was appointed. The Cabinet cancelled the appointment with immediate effect. It also cancelled previous government’s decision to bring seven non-aided school under overnment grant saying the decision was unjustified.
Martyr’s Family: Government has decided to provide jobs to one member of the family of a martyr while fighting enemies. This will be open to Army, Navy, Air Force and Para-military personnel. Any one member of the family, who was minimum 18 years of age, would be entitled for the job. “A guideline has been made as who will get the job. In case of the martyr being married, his wife or children may get the job and if he is unmarried any one from his family including parents, brother or sister could get the job,” the spokesman said. The order will be implemented from retrospective date of April 1, 2017.
Optical Fibre: The cabinet approved the Centre’s notification of November 15, 2016 whereby optical fibres will be laid across the state. The cabinet has capped a fee of Rs 1000 per km as administrative cost and asked licensee to carry out necessary repair of roads and pay the cost of rehabilitation. In case of violation, the bank guarantee of the licensee woul be seized. “Similarly, mobile companies will now have to pay a fee to install towers on government property. The government will have to give approval in 60 days or if it is rejected it will have to ascribe reasons in writing,” Sharma said.
Houses: The state cabinet decided to give houses to villagers who lose their dwellings in natural calamities like flood and fire under a scheme called Mukhya Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana. “This will be applicable to only those beneficiaries who have not got houses under PM Gramin Awas Yojana and will have the same guidelines as that of PM Gramin Awas Yojana. Over 25,000 families would stand to benefit from this,” the spokesman said.
PDS: The cabinet also gave it nod to introducing e-system in ration distribution in rural areas where those having Aadhar cards would be entitled to avail the benefit. “This system has been successfully implemented in urban areas where e-distribution is carried out in 13,144 centres. In villages this will be introduced in 66,628 centres,” the spokesman said. He said this has also been made clear that those who do not have Aadhar Cards will not be deprived of the benefits of the PDS in villages. In other decisions, the government has decided to print text books of primary section on pulp papers besides setting up of 400 kVA sub-station in Rasra in Ballia district at the cost of Rs 424.06 crore. The sub-staion will come up in 30 months.
