Various decisions were taken by the State Cabinet in Dehradun on Wednesday ahead of the Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha. To increase revenue resources, the State Cabinet has finalised the Mining policy under which GMVN would manage mining on 1,000 hectares land, KMVN on 250 hectares land, Forest Development Corporation on 7,000 hectares land and Director Mines would award mining on 4,000 hectares land only.
All the mining would be conducted through open bidding only. Officially, no briefing was made because the Budget Session has been called by the Governor; so neither Government nor officials can make public announcements outside the Vidhan Sabha.
Cabinet has decided to constitute Jan Sahyog Shiksha Kosh (Public Contribution Education Fund), which will receive donation from public and be spent on the renovation of schools, infrastructure development of the government schools and distribution of scholarships among poor and meritorious students.
The Cabinet has also approved Governor's speech, which he will deliver on the first day of first Assembly session of year 2013. The Cabinet has also decided to place Uttarakhand Power Development Fund amendment bill in the House. The Cabinet has also agreed widening of road at Aadhat Bazaar, which means department concerned will widen the road to 19 metres from existing 11 metres while the 15 affected shopkeepers will be given equal space in MDDA complex.
The minimum wage rate of workers under scheduled planning has been increased by about 22 per cent. The wage rates of poor employees and workers were increased in view of living expenses. For the next five years, if the All India Consumer Price Index increases beyond 203 points, the
dearness allowance will be given @ `20 per point.
This will result in an average increase of `800 to `1,200 per month in the wage rate. Now, the minimum wage rates in Uttarakhand are higher than in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.
The Cabinet has also approved planning for the widening of Dispensary Road and affected 99 shopkeepers and residents will be rehabilitated in MDDA complex, which will be constructed at the site which earlier hosted the Veterinary Hospital, or MDDA Complex situated near ISBT.
The Cabinet has also decided to bring Uttarakhand Urban Planning and Development bill in the upcoming Budget session, which is schedule to begin by March 14.
As per the direction of 13th finance commission cabinet has agreed to constitute advisory committee to finalise property tax. The committee will be led by secretary and director local bodies will be appointed as secretary of the committee and two members will be nominated by the State.