Amendment in the State’s mining policy, approval to appointments to posts of lab technicians under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, bonus for cultivation of traditional crops, 10 per cent horizontal job reservation in Government jobs for identified Statehood activists and various other decisions were taken by the State Cabinet in a meeting that continued till late on Monday night.
According to the Chief Secretary N Ravi Shankar, a total of 72 proposals were taken up in the cabinet meeting. Following cabinet approval to amendment in the mining policy, the mining lots will not be allocated through the lottery system in stead of being auctioned.
The royalty on minor minerals has been raised while the application fee for stone crushers has also been increased. For the purpose of mining, the State has been divided into three categories- border districts, middle Himalayan region and the Terai area. Some relaxation has been provided for mining in the border districts while regulations will be enforced stringently in the Terai.
In order to encourage cultivation of traditional crops, the farmers cultivating traditional crops will be provided subsidy on purchase of seeds and production bonus. The cabinet also approved the setting up of a committee headed by the principal secretary, Personnel, to frame the draft of the Act to be brought for provision of 10 per cent Government job reservation for identified Statehood activists. The relaxation of entertainment and luxury taxes on hotels and lodges along the Char Dham Yatra circuit has been extended by one year.
Setting up of sub-treasuries in towns including Almora Pithoragarh and Bageshwar was also approved for the benefit of State Government employees who will not have to visit the State capital and the district headquarters to draw their salaries. Restructuring of the grade pay of home guards with an aim to facilitate uniformity in the grade pay was also approved. Additionally, it was also decided that a loan of `100 crore would be secured from HUDCO to procure 590 deluxe, semi-deluxe and general buses for the State transport corporation in the current year.