The Uttarakhand Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Rs 20 lakh crore central package for reviving economy of the country. The Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat provided succour to the electricity consumers of the state reeling under the effect of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy.
The State Government has provided relaxations to the power consumers in the interest amount and surcharges in their electricity bills. A financial load of Rs 17.64 crore would be on the State Government from these measures.
A compensation of Rs 17.64 crore would be provided from the Chief Minister’s relief fund to the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) for these measures.
Informing about the decisions of the state cabinet held on the day, cabinet minister and state government spokesman Madan Kaushik told media persons that the hotel and restaurant owners would be provided waiver in the fixed charges of electricity for the period of April and June. This measure would provide relief to about 25000 persons associated with tourism sector. A financial burden of Rs six crore would be on government for the measure. In the state about one lakh people are associated with hotel industry. In another decision aimed at providing relief to the farmers, the state government has decided to waive off late payment charges on the bills of private tube well consumers.
The measure is expected to provide relief to 20000 farmers of the state.
The cabinet also decided to suspend recovery of fixed and demand charge from the industrial and commercial category consumers. The recovery would now be done from July to October in four equal installments. For online payment of electricity bills, a rebate of one percent would be given to all consumers.
Kaushik said that the cabinet decided to bring an ordinance for promotion of contract farming in the state.
In another decision, the cabinet amended the Boiler act of 1923 to provide relaxation in inspection of boilers till June. The cabinet also decided to merge the cadres of ministerial employees of state health directorate and offices in the districts.