In a bid to address the nitty-gritty of the urban development department, Chief Minister Harish Rawat had called a Cabinet meeting on Monday evening. Notwithstanding the late start by 90 minutes, the meeting took eight decisions, in all, including the one of blacklisting Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation limited (UPPCl).
As per chief secretary N Ravishankar, who briefed the media about what transpired in the Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet has taken eight decisions, including four related to urban development department, one each of revenue, health, right to service and Rsfive crore additional fund for the betterment of disaster affected children.
Integrated Housing and Slum Development schemes, which, though launched in 2008-09, could not be completed with the executive agency leaving the work mid- way. The fund utilisation time period is ending by March 31, 2015. The Cabinet meeting was convened to decide things with the project hanging fire. Under the project, the executive agency was supposed to build 3,788 houses as part of slum development.
The Cabinet decided that as regards the houses, which are completed, ownership rights will be transferred to the beneficiaries. Things related to half- built single houses will be reviewed and the remaining work will be executed on the basis of owner-driven construction scheme that has been applied in the disaster-affected areas by the State Government. As per this scheme, the owners will be given cash assistance to complete the left-out work. Multi-storied building will be made through tender process. The Cabinet has also blacklisted the Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation limited (UPPCl) which was given the responsibility to complete the work.
The Cabinet has also decided to punish the bureaucrats responsible for the mess. The project is spread over four districts - Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar- with local bodies being involved too.
Remaining 1,500 houses, where no work has been executed, construction cost will be made after re-evaluation. Single houses will be built under owner —driven construction schemes and multi- stories houses will be constructed through tendering process.
As per the rough estimate, 800 out of 3,788 were completed and 1,300 were half- constructed and for the remaining 1,600 houses construction is yet to begin.
In a bid to ensure planned growth in Gairsain, where Vidhan Sabha and other houses are being constructed, the Cabinet has decided to constitute Garisain Regulatory Authority. Gairsain Nagar Panchayat and 13 villages of Gairsain Tehsil have been included in it.
To ensure timely execution of the housing development, the Cabinet has approved the new structure of urban and village planning department. The Cabinet has approved 25 new posts, thus raising the figure to 130 posts. Earlier, the department was being led by senior planner, but from now onwards, the department would be led by chief town and country planner.
However, the Cabinet could not have taken decision on revenue department proposal related to declaring agriculture land as non- agricultural land.
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Rawat opts to blacklist UPPCl in Cabinet meet
To ensure integrated development in the state, the Cabinet has asked secretary revenue to convene meeting with their officials and submit report before the Cabinet in a fortnight. The agriculture land will be used for non- agriculture purposes like housing medical college, industry and small scale industrial units.
The Cabinet has also discussed details about World Bank -funded health schemes under which around Rs 800 crore will be spent in the state. It has also decided to promote PPP mode in the hills as well. As per the experiences, PPP mode has proved a great success in the plains. They would thrive in the hills too.
The Cabinet has also approved the structure of Commission, which has been constituted under Uttarakhand Right to Service Act-2012. As per the decision, the commission now would have 33 posts, including secretary and joint secretary level officers.
The Cabinet has also approved the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme, which will be launched in the state by April 1, through central insurance company. Under this, the beneficiary would get medical insurance up to the Rs 50,000 per person. Union Government, State Government and Income Tax payee people would not be covered under the scheme. The State Government will pay the premium on behalf of the beneficiaries to the insurance company.
The Cabinet has also approved Rs five crore fund to be used for the betterment of disaster- affected children, especially those hit in June-2013 disaster.