To provide relief to rural households, the Haryana Cabinet led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday approved the waiver of outstanding water charges, including surcharge and interest, amounting to Rs 374.28 crore. This move is set to benefit water consumers in general categories and Scheduled Castes across the state. An announcement to this effect was made by the Chief Minister during a Jan Samvad held at Ateli Mandi in the Mahendergarh district.

Interacting with the media persons after the cabinet meeting, Khattar said that this decision will extend relief to a substantial 28.87 lakh water connection holders in rural areas across the state. However, this waiver does not extend to institutional, commercial, or industrial consumers falling under the Public Health Engineering department.

He also said that the Cabinet has approved the waiver of water charges amounting to Rs 336.35 crore, accumulated from April 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022, for all types of consumers in villages and rural areas. This encompasses general category as well as Scheduled Castes categories. In addition, the Cabinet has accorded approval for the waiver of surcharge and interest totaling Rs 37.93 crore on water charges accumulated from April 1, 2015, to December 31, 2023, in villages and rural areas.

Moreover, to enhance the enforcement capabilities of the Transport Department, the cabinet has accorded approval to bestow challaning powers upon Transport Inspectors under  Rule 225 of the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules 1993. Currently, there are 114 positions for Transport Inspectors in the state, with 66 officers in the Transport Department already assigned primarily to enforcement duties. These enforcement officers will be in addition to 22 DTO-cum-Secretary RTA, 22 Motor Vehicle Officer (Enforcement), and 7 Assistant Secretary level officers.

Nod to policy on development of Eco-Tourism

To harness the state's rich biodiversity, ecosystems, heritage monuments, and cultural diversity, Khattar said that the cabinet gave its nod to the policy on development of Eco-Tourism in the state. This initiative is a key step towards positioning Haryana as a premier eco-tourism destination, offering a harmonious blend of nature, culture, and community engagement. The Government has invited stakeholders, tourists, and nature enthusiasts to participate actively in realizing the objectives of the Eco-Tourism Policy. The policy will focus on preserving Haryana's existing biodiversity, ecosystems, heritage monuments, culture, and traditions while promoting traditional ecological knowledge, and heritage values of Haryana's wilderness.

This policy provides opportunities to promote nature tourism, enhancing the local economy and promoting sustainable use of indigenous materials and also encourages collaboration between local communities, NGOs, academic institutions, private enterprises, and various government departments for holistic eco-tourism development thereby helping such communities become ‘AtmaNirbhar’.

The policy emphasizes the conservation of Haryana's diverse landscapes, including two National Parks, seven Wildlife Sanctuaries, two Ramsar Sites, two Conservation Reserves, and five Community Reserves along with many niche faunal habitat ecosystem including the old Aravalli hill range, Shivalik hills, rich biodiversity, dense forests, host of water bodies and scenic places. To facilitate eco-tourism activities, the Forest and Wildlife Department has developed facilities at various locations in the state.

The Forest and Wildlife Department has developed Eco-tourism facilities at Chuharpur and Bansataur in Yamunanagar, Thapli in Panchkula, Nature Trail in Panchkula and Yamunanagar and Masani in Rewari district to promote Eco-tourism in the state.

Chowkidars to get a one -time retirement benefit of Rs 2 lakh

Khattar said that the cabinet has also accorded approval to amend The Chowkidara (Watchman) Rules, 2013 to provide one time financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh to a Gramin Chowkidar (Watchman) after retirement. The decision will benefit all Gramin Chowkidars and the State Government will bear the total financial burden. The State Government has therefore decided to increase monthly honorarium from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 11,000 per month, uniform allowance from Rs. 2500 per year to Rs. 4,000 per year and Cycle allowance of Rs. 3500 every 5 year. All these financial benefits will entail an expenditure of approx. Rs. 30 crore every year.

Financial assistance to individuals suffering from rare diseases

Khattar said that the cabinet has approved a pioneering scheme offering monthly financial assistance to persons suffering from rare diseases. Under this scheme, individuals suffering from rare diseases, meeting the eligibility criteria, will receive monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,750 per month. The financial assistance provided under this scheme will be in addition to the benefit being availed under any other social security pension scheme by the applicant.

The cabinet has approved the amendment in eligibility criterion and recruitment conditions related to the cadres in Haryana Forest Executive Section (Group C) Service Rules, 1998. The Haryana State Forest Executive Section (Group C) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2023 will come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette. As per the amendment, now the ratio of Direct Recruitment and Promotee Forest Rangers will be 50:50, while at present the said ratio is 67:33. The said amendment has been made in view of recommendation from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi, in order to provide better avenues of promotions to the Deputy Rangers.