While re-examining the potential of Uttarakhand to become an energy state, the Pushkar Singh Dhami cabinet has taken important decisions.
Big cut in license fee:
For hydropower projects ranging from two MW to more than 100 MW, a new policy has been prepared by integrating three different policies like Himachal Pradesh. In this, there has been a big reduction in the license fee fixed per MW for the capacity addition of the project.
It has been reduced from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 lakh per MW. Energy Corporation will compulsorily purchase power produced from projects up to 25 MW. Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission will do electricity tariff for this. Taking other important decisions, the cabinet gave in-principle consent to develop 15 new cities.
Decisions were taken on a total of 20 points in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Along with this, at Chintan Shivir in Mussoorie, 25 major points fixed for making Uttarakhand strong by 2025 were also stamped.
The cabinet approved the Integrated Hydropower Policy by amending the old policies to speed up the construction of hydropower projects and to promote capital investment. After studying the policy of Himachal, the policy of Uttarakhand has been prepared almost accordingly.
Shailesh Bagoli briefed on the decisions of the cabinet:
Secretary to Chief Minister Shailesh Bagoli briefed the decisions of the cabinet. He informed that different policies were being implemented in the state for hydropower projects of capacity 2 MW to 25 MW, 25 MW to 100 MW and more than 100 MW.
He informed that Rs 1 lakh per MW license fee will now be charged on the increased capacity for the projects allotted before the formation of the state. Also, after the formation of the state of Uttarakhand, it has been decided to charge the increased capacity according to the per MW premium paid by the developer for the allotted projects.
If the organization or firm building the project wants to transfer the project for any reason, it will be allowed. The government will consider the related proposal before giving permission. Permission has also been given to use soil, minerals during the construction of hydroelectric projects and to set up stone crushers in the project area.
Now the project contract period has been made 40 years from the date of scheduled commercial production, not from the date of signing of the MoU. In order to give relief to the investors, the date of commencement of construction of hydropower projects and commercial production date of under-construction projects can be rescheduled without any delay surcharge, under the one-time amnesty scheme.
These decisions were also taken in the cabinet meeting
90 percent posts in secretariat administration will be filled by direct recruitment.
Now permission for parole can be obtained from DM only. Parole will be arranged for a maximum period of 12 months.
PWD’s structure will be restructured.
Five roads of SIDCUL will be transferred to PWD.
The parking policy was also approved by the cabinet.
Permit tax relief for buses in hills has been increased to 75 percent.
Out of 91 ITIs in the state, 20 institutes will be upgraded on the Karnataka model.
Transport- 100 percent exemption will be given in motor vehicle tax in city bus.
There will be an amendment in the enforcement staff service rules of the transport department. 100% posts of enforcement constable will be filled by direct recruitment.
State Parking Rules were promulgated.
There will be no compulsion of master plan on railway land.
Free books will be given to students up to class 12 in government and aided colleges.
The University of Engineering and Technology will be named Core University.
In the Lakhwad project, the department had floated tenders 4 times. Only one tender came, it was allowed to open.
A master plan will be prepared for Mahasu Devta and Jageshwar Dham of Almora.
Divyang will be given 25 percent exemption in stamp duty.
