CABINET NOD TO PROPOSAL TO EXPEDITE DEF CORRIDOR

LUCKNOW : The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Monday gave a go ahead to a number of proposals to expedite the Noida Greenfield International Airport project (Jewar airport) and the defence corridor project in the state. In a meeting presided over by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the cabinet also approved a proposal to increase the allowance for new uniform for police constables and head constables from Rs 2,250 to Rs 3,000 per annum.

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Monday gave a go ahead to a number of proposals to expedite the Noida Greenfield International Airport project (Jewar airport) and the defence corridor project in the state.

In a meeting presided over by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the cabinet also approved a proposal to increase the allowance for new uniform for police constables and head constables from Rs 2,250 to Rs 3,000 per annum.

For class IV employees, the uniform allowance has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per annum. The decision will cost Rs 25.49 crore to the state exchequer.

Briefing media persons about the cabinet decisions, UP energy minister Shrikant Sharma said the state cabinet had approved allocation of state’s share of Rs 1,500 crore for acquisition of land for Jewar airport. The total of cost of acquisition has been estimated at Rs 4,500 crore. “The civil aviation department has been exempted from payment of 2.5 per cent acquisition cost to the revenue department,” Sharma said.

The state cabinet approved payment of compensation of Rs 2,852 crore for acquisition of 1239.14 hectare land for the project. The cabinet also decided to provide land of various departments for the project free of cost.

“The cabinet has authorised the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) to develop Jewar airport on public-private partnership (PPP) model. NIAL has been authorised to select the developer for airport and give the land on a lease of 90 years for the project,” he said.

INCENTIVE FOR AANGANWADI WORKERS

In another decision, the cabinet decided to grant performancelinked incentives to ‘aanganwadi’ workers and their assistants. The workers will be given an incentive of Rs 500 per month while the assistants will get Rs 250 per month. The decision will cost Rs 162.72 crore to the exchequer and the Centre and the state government will share the burden on 60:40 basis.

HOT MEAL FOR KIDS

The state cabinet has decided to use the resources of midday meal scheme to provide hot cooked meal to children in the age group of 3-6 years. In 54 districts, hot cooked meal will be prepared in primary schools while in 21 districts, self-help groups will be involved for cooking hot meals. An amount of Rs 571.62 crore will be spent in providing hot cooked food at the rate of Rs 4.50 per child and 46,99,925 children will be benefited .

NOD TO SAG

The cabinet also approved a Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) in the age group of 11-14 years. Under the scheme, food supplements will be provided to adolescent girls for 300 days in a year. The scheme provides for bringing these girls to schools and developing their skills. It will also help them in medical check-up and referral services.

The cabinet increased the

bicycle allowance for government staff from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per month and condition of proper maintenance of bicycle has been done away with. This will cost Rs 11.10 crore to the state exchequer.

TRANSMISSION NETWORK: PGCIL, ADANI SELECTED

The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and the Adani Transmission Ltd will prepare the transmission networks for the under-construction Jawaharpur and the Obra C thermal plants respectively.

The Cabinet on Monday accorded its nod to the UP Power

Transmission Ltd’s (UPPTL) proposal for awarding the contracts for building transmission lines etc for the two projects to them. Both the PGCIL and the Adani were found to have quoted the lowest price for the work in the tariff-based competitive biddings invited separately for the two projects.

The PGCIL has been selected for the construction of 400 kv substation in Firozabad. The construction of transmission networks to evacuate electricity to be generated from the two thermal plants will bring a private investment of more than ₹1,400 crore, a government spokesman said.