Shimla, Sep 19: The Cabinet today decided against allowing sale of land under tea gardens to select land owners and denied permission to six hydropower projects to surrender the allotted projects and get back the Rs 280 crore upfront premium paid by them.Sources confirmed that these contentious issues were placed before the Cabinet but after a detailed discussion, it was felt that the move of allowing change of land use under tea gardens would violate the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972.
The Revenue Department had prepared a proposal to allow the sale of land under tea gardens to two politically well-connected owners in Dharamsala and Palampur.Some questionable decisions were placed before the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in view of the fact that elections were barely two months away.
In yet another decision which could have come in for sharp criticism, the Cabinet turned down the move of allowing surrendering of six hydropower projects. There was a move to allow surrendering of 449 MW Duggar project in Pangi, Chamba district, 400 MW Seli project, 126 MW Bardang project, 104 MW Tandi project, 130 MW Rashil project, all four in the tribal district of Lahaul Spiti, and 220 MW Bara Bhangal project.
“It not only turned down the move but also directed the Power Directorate to issue notices to the executing agencies to expedite work so that they could be completed and generation started,” said a minister.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet gave nod to further amendments to the already-approved policy for regularisation of forest encroachments so that one family cannot retain more than five bighas.
The issue of allotting land to sitting MLAs and ex-legislators for a housing society near the airport at Jubbarhatti was discussed, but nod has been given only to start the process for identification of land. The Cabinet also gave nod to form a policy for Jal Rakshaks in the Irrigation and Public Health Department and provide them an honorarium of Rs 2,500 per month. Those holding ITI degrees would be considered for being appointed as pump operator fitters.
The Cabinet also decided to provide annual increment to Primary Assistant Teachers (PAT) on the lines of regular JBT and frame a transfer policy for them.To fulfil the commitment of providing quality education to girl child, the Cabinet approved a scholarship scheme of Rs 5,000 annually for girls of BPL families under Beti Hai Anmol Yojna. As eco village is an emerging concept, it was decided to set up five Model Eco Villages at Charau in Shimla, Deonthal in Sirmaur, Damru in Kinnaur, Bhanjraru in Chamba and Tipra in Bilaspur.
Source Tribune India
