There is a good news for millions of followers of Bacchus in UP. The UP government has decided not to increase the prices of liquor, both IMFl and country-made, for the next two years. What is more, the government has also decided to increase the number of shops by at least 15 per cent. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held in lucknow on Tuesday.
Well-placed sources said that the Cabinet approved the new excise policy which will be applicable for two financial years. “With the Assembly polls slated for 2017, the government has decided to announce the new policy for the next two fiscals,” the source said
“There will be increase in licensing and processing fee of country-made, IMFl and beer shops. But this will be limited to only those districts which have failed to meet the target of revenue collection,” source said. “The excise commissioner has been empowered to increase the number of shops in a particular district by 15 per cent and over it he has to take permission of the state government,” he added
The government has set a revenue target of Rs 19,250 crore for 2016-17 and Rs 20,746 crore for the fiscal 2017-18 for the Excise department.
The government has also announced MSME Policy, 2016, with a target to achieve 12 per cent growth in Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises. Under this policy, the government will act as facilitator and district industry centres will be developed as promotion centres. “Private players will be roped in and web portal will be created to provide an easy market,” the Cabinet note said.
“Clusters will be set up in identified areas where accreditated testing centres will be created so that Indian products can meet international standards,” it said.
In a series of decisions, the Cabinet decided to widen the Mirzapur to lumbini-Dudhi Road. Against the total cost of Rs 8630.05 lakh, Rs 8420.32 lakhs has been sanctioned. Similarly, the Cabinet approved the widening of Saunali-Deoria Road and for this Rs 20790.04 lakh has been sanctioned. The state government has also decided to provide land free of cost for the construction of a bus stand at Gursahaiganj in Kannauj.
Besides, the government decided to install speed governors in all public transport vehicles. However, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, cycles, fire tenders, ambulances and police cars will not come under its purview.
The government has also decided to set up Mughal museum to come up on the vacant place near the east gate of Taj Mahal. The UPRNN has given a proposal of Rs 192.34 crore against which Rs 141.89 crore has been approved. A committee, comprising architects, musicologists and historians of international repute, will set the guidelines for maintenance of the museum.
Besdies, the Cabinet also approved the setting up of a state-run Allopathic College in Chandauli. The setting up of an ICU for organ transplant in KGMU Centenary Hospital was also okayed. The government also decided to send a proposal to the Centre to make amendments in Acts for the introduction of Metro rails in Kanpur and Varanasi. The lMRC would act as consultant of both these Metros.