Akhilesh Yadav Government has given its approval to heritage tourism policy

With an aim to attract foreign tourists the Akhilesh Yadav Government has given its approval to heritage tourism policy opening its doors to develop “kothis” and “havelis” as heritage sites. .

The decision to this effect was taken in a cabinet meet headed by state Chief Minister Akhliesh Yadav here on Tuesday.According to the policy, the historical buildings, quilas, havelis and khothis will be made more attractive to boost tourism as is done in Rajasthan. “The definition of heritage hotel its facilities and exemptions have been laid down in this policy that was approved by the cabinet,” government spokesman said.

Also, a provision has been made for exemptions in entertainment tax, stamp duty and custom license for the construction of the heritage hotel.Earlier, there was a proposal for conversion of such buildings into heritage hotel, but the idea was dropped as the same needed high-scale maintenance.In another decision the state government has simplified its solar energy policy to attract private investment. With the changed policy the state has opened its door for private entrepreneurs to set up even small solar power plant of 1 MW.

“Separate procedure would be adopted for those who want to set up solar power plants less than 5 MW. Government would give concessions to only those power plants which are viable. There would be separate bidding for plants over 5 MW,” the spokesman saidThe cabinet has approved a separate policy for Bundelkhand and Purvanchanl under which government would bear the cost of transmission lines and construction of sub-stations if entrepreneurs set up solar power plants in those regions.The cabinet has also asked other departments like Irrigation to set up solar power plants that will help in operating tubewells and taking away pressure from conventional energy.

The cabinet has also decided to increase pension of loktantrik senani from existing Rs 3000 to Rs 6,000 per month. In another decision Government has decided to wean away Jal Nigam from Bureau of Enterprise. “The Jal Nigam has its own policies and the Bureau of Enterprise has its own. Sometimes employees of Jal Nigam suffer because of the contradiction in the policies,” the spokesman said.The state government has set up a society named “Etawah Safari Park Society” that will look after the maintenance of lion Safari in Etawah. Initial amount of Rs 100 crore has been deposited in the account. Chief Minister would head this Society while Chief Wildlife Warder would be its secretary.

In other decisions Government has approved proposal to set up training centres in Rampur, made UP Co-operative Federation as nodal agency for coal purchase for thermal power stations and has also approved sixth pay commission for the employees of GIDA.