The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday, approved the Haryana Clean Air Project for sustainable development for the period spanning from the financial year 2024-25 to 2029-30. The project is aimed to improve air quality and reduce emissions across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a region that spans multiple state boundaries.
A Spokesperson said that the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD) is a Haryana government initiative supported by the World Bank. The total proposed budget for the project is Rs 3,647 crore. The project will be financed through the World Bank’s Program for Results (PforR) mechanism.
The project will support the strengthening of air quality management systems in the state, while synergizing efforts being undertaken by the Government of India. It will focus on designing and implementing sector-specific air pollution abatement measures and facilitating coordination among Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) states to reduce cross-border emissions. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the 'ease of living' for citizens across Haryana's cities.
The potential benefits of the project include supporting the piloting and scaling up of state-of-the-art pollution control technologies, which could serve as a model for the rest of India. It will also enable air-shed management through the expansion of the air quality monitoring network, capturing statewide sources of pollution, and the development of a state-level emission inventory. The project is expected to lead to improved air quality in Haryana through emission reductions and positive spillover effects. The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development is a multi-sector initiative led by the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Haryana Pollution Control Board.
The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development will be jointly implemented by various departments, including Departments of Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Transport, Industries and Commerce, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Town and Country Planning, Haryana State Industrial and infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), Haryana Pollution Control Board, Rural Development , Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Development and Panchayats , Food and Civil Supplies , Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited, Faridabad Metropolitan City Bus Limited, Haryana City Bus Service Limited and Directorate of MSME.
Approves Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme for recovery of outstanding dues-2025
Talking to Reporters, Saini said that the Cabinet has approved the Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme for recovery of outstanding dues-2025. He reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment for empowering small traders and fostering a business-friendly environment in the state. In line with the promises made in the Sankalp Patra, the government has introduced the Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues 2025 aimed at moving ahead in the GST regime with lesser baggage of arrears, litigations and to expedite the recovery of outstanding dues and give relief to small taxpayers. In the New Scheme formulated for the settlement of outstanding tax liabilities under seven pre-GST Acts, Taxpayers with outstanding liabilities of up to Rs. 10 lakh under any single Act will be granted a concession of up to Rs. 1 lakh. Additionally, 60% of the remaining principal tax amount will also be waived.
Gives nod to amendment of the Haryana Divyang Pension Rules, 2016
In a move towards inclusivity and support for Persons With Disabilities (PwDs), Saini said that the cabinet has approved amendments to the Haryana Disabled Pension Rules, 2016. As per the decision, 10 additional categories of PwDs in Haryana will now be eligible for pension benefits. The move aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, under which the Central Government has included 21 disability categories. Until now, the Haryana Government has been providing pension benefits to individuals with 11 categories of disabilities. With the approval of the recent amendments in the rules, 32,000 more PwDs will be eligible to receive monthly pension benefits.