Steering clear over the controversy of allotment of 15 MW Sai Kothi hydro-electric project to a private developer, the Himachal Cabinet on Saturday decided to give the project to State Electricity Board.
Sai Kothi-II has already been allotted to HP State Electricity Board.
The allotment of the project had generated much controversy as former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son Arun Dhumal had made allegations that the project was allotted to a company from whom the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his family had borrowed money.
Moreover, reversing a decision of the earlier Government, Himachal Cabinet decided to abolish Van Thanas. It gave approval for changes in land laws, revised policy guidelines for setting up stone crushers and without increasing the retirement age decided to grant conditional extension in service to all Government employees.
Not able to justify the functioning of 10 Van Thanas, which were set up by the earlier Prem Kumar Dhumal Government to check timber smuggling, the Cabinet decided to abolish them.
Presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the Cabinet also approved a stray cattle policy to tackle the problem in the State.
It gave approval for amendment in H.P Tenancy and land Reforms Rules, 1975 for plots in industrial areas/estates developed by the industrial department/State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDC).
The Cabinet also decided that college cadre lecturers appointed on contract basis between 1997 to 2002 will be regularised from June 1.
A mounting subsidy bill on special subsidised scheme for food rations in the State forced the Cabinet to limit it to Rs 20 per kg for pulses and Rs 10 per litre for edible oil. Other than the central food subsidy schemes, the state has a scheme of its own for all ration card holders.
Without increasing the retirement age, the Cabinet decided to provide a years’ extension in service to all Government employees ‘subject to satisfaction of the State Government.’ An approval was also given for amendments in the Rules for allotment of plots to the Bhakra Dam oustees in New Bilaspur Township.