The Government has gone ahead with the second and final phase of the Centre’s ambitious Bharat Net project aimed at taking high speed internet connections to last mile in Jharkhand. Under the project, every panchayat of the State would be equipped with the facility by March 2019.
Notably, the Government under ‘Digital Jharkhand’ initiative is already working on the project in 13 districts of Jharkhand where work is at a very advanced stage. “11 new districts namely Gumla, Simdega, West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Pakur, Khunti, Godda, Dumka, Jamtara, Chatra and Garhwa have been included for rolling out the Bharat Net project to provide high speed net connectivity up to panchayat level. The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 420.44 crore for the second phase which is to be completed by March 2019,” said Home Secretary SKG Rahate informing about Cabinet decisions on Thursday.
In the second phase, total 4,403 gram panchayats would be covered with internet connectivity making the functioning and implementation of schemes easier and accessible to all with full transparency.
The Cabinet, at the same time, approved Jharkhand Skill Development policy which is aimed to provide skill training to at least five lakh youths. “The policy would define action plan for opening number of mega skill development centres, their locations, trades, mode of their operation such as
Government, PPP or industry etc,” added Rahate.
On the energy front, the Cabinet approved amendment to the joint venture agreement signed between JBVNl and NTPC for upgradation of PTPS thermal power station of Patratu. Under the new provision, existing units of the under-revival power plant would be shut down instead of earlier plan to renovate them.
“Thus, the 4000 MW upcoming power plant would be built afresh as reviving the existing worn out units would not have been cost effective and economically feasible,” said Rahate. Earlier, some units of the 10 unit plant were to be renovated by the NTPC.
Rs 2655.81 crore has been approved for building 26 grid substations and doubling of 132/33 kva transmission lines. Agriculture Minister Randhir Singh said that 70 per cent of the cost would be met by the World Bank loan and the rest would be funded by the State Government.
Also, the Cabinet promulgated Jharkhand Motor Vehicle Taxation Ordinance which would allow issuing permits for plying sleeper buses from Jharkhand to other states. Earlier, such permits were issued by other states for the buses coming to the State.
The Cabinet also decided to set up Jharkhand Authority of Advanced Ruling which is mandatory under the GST regime. This would work as a tribunal where disputes and claims can be settled at the State level.