The BJP government in the poll-bound State on Thursday announced a hike of 10 per cent in dearness allowance (DA) to the State employees. The decision comes as a bonanza for a large number of employees and pensioners ahead of the festive season.
"The decision to hike 10 per cent DA was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Public Relations and Culture Minister laxmikant Sharma said.
With this, the DA component would be 90 per cent of the basic salary, he said, adding that it would be paid with effect from July 1, 2013. The DA of Madhya Pradesh government employees would now be almost at par with their Central counterparts.
The Cabinet sanctioned setting up of 18 new industrial areas for giving a fillip to industrial development and increasing employment opportunities in the State.
It would cost Rs 694 crore. In the first phase, 9 new industrial areas would be set up at Bhopal (Acharpura, Govindpura and Bagroda), Indore (Crystal IT Park), Khandwa (Bhagwansingpura), Dewas (Sirsauda), Morena (Sitapur), Gwalior (Gadaipura) and Rewa (Bagaha).
In the second phase, 9 industrial areas would be set up at Vidisha (Jambar Bagri), Hoshangabad (Babai), Dhar (Ujjaini), Burhanpura (Jhiri), Namkeen Cluster Indore, Pharma and Apparel Park Indore, Ujjain (Tajpur), Morena (Sitapur) and Satna (Maihar). A sum of Rs 487 crore has been sanctioned for setting up these industrial areas.
The Cabinet also decided to transfer land to Forest department for afforestation in lieu of 180 hectare land allotted for National Technical Research Organisation at village Bagroda in Huzoor tahsil of Bhopal district.
The Cabinet decided that CC TV surveillance system would be installed in major cities. CC TV-based monitoring project would be implemented in 61 cities, including the district headquarters. A sum of Rs 429 crore has been sanctioned for this under the 12th Five-Year Plan.
The system would help in quick and effective control over crime, ensure women's safety and prompt action in case of terrorist attack, traffic control and better law and order. A State-level integrated data centre would be set up with which control rooms of remaining cities would be linked.
The Cabinet sanctioned traffic management action plan for 5 big cities under the 12th Five-Year Plan. These include Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Ujjain. Cost of the project is Rs 190 crore in which information technology would be effectively used. The system would be introduced keeping in view the convenience of pedestrians. All preventive measures would also be ensured by identifying accident-prone areas. Guidelines regarding hoardings at traffic signals would be chalked out and implemented. Besides, guidelines for road signage display would be implemented as per international norms.