The Himachal Pradesh cabinet today decided to allot land to the poor in urban and rural areas for construction of houses.
The state cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, approved a proposal to allot three biswa (135 sq yards) and two biswa (90 sq yards) land in rural and urban areas respectively.
The plots would be allotted from the surplus government land, and only the deputy commissioners would be authorised to make the allotment.
Families with an annual income of below Rs 50,000 and those whose entire land has been washed away in floods and have no suitable plot for the construction of houses will be eligible for the scheme, even if these families are not included in the BPL list, a government spokesman said.
The cabinet also gave its nod to opening of nine degree colleges at Nagrota Surian in Kangra district; Rewalsar, Sandhol and Lad Bhadol in Mandi district; Dharamapur and Diggal in Solan district; Sarahan in Sirmaur district; and Nankhari and Kumarsain in Shimla district.
The cabinet gave its consent to transfer the charge of recruitment for certain categories of Class-III posts from the HP Subordinate Services Selection Board to the Public Service Commission to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure quality.
It also granted approval for leasing out university land to set up Spices Park at KVK Bara, Hamirpur, and for creation of Up-Tehsil at Jol in Una district.
The cabinet approved amendment of the HP Motor Vehicle Rules, 1999 to increase/rationalise the application fee, permit fee and composite fee.
It decided to maintain the status quo on construction activities in 17 green pockets in Shimla Planning Area, and decided to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of the Urban Development Minister to examine the anomalies in the demarcation of the green pockets. This committee will submit its report in a month's time.
It also granted approval for establishment of Government Polytechnic at Chopal in Shimla district.
Approval was also given to allot 4.40 MW Tindi Small Hydroelectric Project to L&T Development Power Ltd. To meet the power requirements of the under-construction Reoli Dugli (420MW) power plant.
The cabinet gave approval for regularisation of 21 Nepali workers in HIMUDA relaxing required educational qualification.
It also approved a grant of ex-gratia (in lieu of bonus) at the rate of 8.33 per cent to the officials of the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation who are drawing salary of more than Rs 10,000 per month.
