The State Government has declared Uttarakhand a drought-affected State and will be writing to the Central Government seeking financial aid as is being provided for drought affected Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra States.
Apart from this, the State Cabinet under Chief Minister Harish Rawat has also decided to extend the licence renewal period for stone crushers from one year to five years. These were among the dozen decisions taken at the State Cabinet meeting held here on Saturday.
Briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions, Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh said that the Cabinet has decided to accord Nagar Panchayat status to Dewal in Chamoli district. As decided by the Cabinet, an Uttarakhand Boli Bhasha Sansthan will be established at Gauchar in Chamoli district for conservation and upliftment of the Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages and dialects spoken in the State.
The potable water department will draft a scheme for encouraging water conservation in rural areas wherein financial incentive will be provided to any individuals, organisations, Gram Panchayats or Van Panchayats constructing ponds for water conservation. In accordance with the construction cost and size, the beneficiary will be given one-time amount from `5,000 to a maximum `1 lakh while annual bonus will also be given for maintaining the water body.
The bonus amount will be calculated as per the Jal Sansthan rates on the basis of water quantity in the pond.
The salary of 150 computer operators working on contract basis in tehsils will be increased as per the rates of Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam limited (UPNl). Except for the Fikwal community Pratapnagar in Tehri district will be included in OBC category. The procedure for stone crushers and mineral storage will be decentralized and will be approved from the district magistrate level. The renewal of stone crusher and related licences will now have to be made every five years instead of annual. The rates for royalty on boulders, sand and others will be fixed as per the quality of the material, said the Chief Secretary.