Uttarakhand

• 11 Jun 2022

Centre Approves Investment for Jamrani Project

Why in News?

• On June 10, 2022, Investment approval was given to the ambitious Jamrani Dam project of Uttarakhand in a meeting on investment approval proposals held under the chairmanship of Water Resources Secretary in New Delhi.

Key Points

• Officials of NITI Aayog and Central Water Commission attended the meeting. It considered proposals for investment clearance for projects in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project worth Rs. 2584.10 crore was approved in the meeting. The approval is given on 90:10 (Centre : State) basis.
• The project aims to generate 63 million units of electricity and will provide additional irrigation facilities for 57,065 hectares of land.
• This project will also provide 42 MCM of drinking water to Haldwani city by the year 2055. The government has set a target to complete the project by the year 2027.
• It is worth mentioning that the construction of a multipurpose Jamrani dam project is proposed on the Gola river in Nainital district of Uttarakhand state. Construction of Gola Barrage in the first phase of the project, 244 km. Reconstruction of canal and construction of Damuva and Amritpuri colonies have been completed. The main dam will be constructed in the second phase.

Many Important Decisions Taken in the Cabinet Meeting

Why in News?

• On June 10, 2022, several important decisions were taken in the meeting of the State Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Secretariat. A total of 23 points were considered in the meeting.

Key Points

• The cabinet gave its approval to outsource the Sitar Ganj sugar mill to be operated through public-private partnership method in future.
• The Council of Ministers approved the presentation of the state's annual budget in the Assembly.
• Apart from this, the amount of one-time grant given to the gallantry award winners was also increased, which are as follows-
  • One-time grant for Param Vir Chakra recipients increased from Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh.
  • For Ashok Chakra recipients increased from Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh.
  • For Mahavir Chakra recipients increased from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh.
  • For Kirti Chakra winners increased from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh.
  • For Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra increased from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh.
  • For Army Gallantry Medal increased from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.
  • For Mention in Dispatch increased from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
• The cabinet has also given its approval to the companion service manual of the Irrigation Department. Apart from this, it also gave its approval to introduce the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act Amendment Bill, 2022 and the Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Amendment Bill, 2022 in the Vidhan Sabha.
• The Council of Ministers approved the introduction of the relevant Bill in the Legislative Assembly regarding amendment to the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies Act, 2003.
• The cabinet also directed the one-time settlement scheme for compounding of nursing homes, clinics, childcare centers, nursery schools etc. from single residential-commercial buildings should be completed within the stipulated time frame.