Cabinet takes decision on 16 key issues

Ahead of the upcoming Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha session, which is going to begin by December 5, the Vijay Bahuguna Cabinet has taken a decision on 16 issues on Tuesday late evening. Due to Vidhan Sabha session, no official briefing was made by the officer, which usually happens after every Cabinet meeting.

There is a provision that once Vidhan Sabha session declares then no announcement can happen outside the House and if Government or Minister or officer does, then it would be contempt of house. Sources said that the State Government has made utmost efforts to increase the State revenue resources.

As per sources, Cabinet has decided to impose entertainment tax on entertainment parks, cleared first supplementary budget for the year 2012-13, cleared four private universities, short listed PPIL a union government agency for the building of infrastructure in the state; four ordinance to replace the bills including two ordinance of  Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC); cleared three departments' service rule & regulations and finalised organizational structure of Medical education directorate.

The Cabinet has also decided to impose entertainment tax on Entertainment park, water park and string operated through motor. Cabinet has decided to issue four ordinance including Ordinance for water tax 25 paise per qubic meter water on hydro power project, which was decided in a cabinet meeting on December 9, 2011; to check human activity in low lying areas and to check flood  a decision was taken to declare flood prone area as zone in a cabinet meeting on August 21, 2012; For the construction of infrastructure for tourist and pilgrims and to check pollution, the State Cabinet had decided to impose entry tax on vehicle at the entry point on August 21, 2012; to ease the procedure of tax on motor vehicle and increase the revenue, Cabinet had decided to make amendments in Uttarakhand Motor vehicle taxation Reform (amendment) Act-2012. There is a rough estimate that state would earn around Rs 1,700 crore per annum by imposing water tax and this system currently applicable in Jammu & Kashmir.

To ensure expenditure of MLA local area development fund and empower MLA, the Cabinet has decided to award contract worth of Rs three lakh on the recommendation of MLAs without tender.

The Cabinet has decided to establish four private universities namely DIT University Act-2012, IMS Unison University Act-2012, Himalayan University Act-2012 and Uttarakhand University Act-2012, which were decided by cabinet on June 7, 2012, by issuing ordinance. Now treasury bench would produce replacement act before the house in upcoming winter session.

Cabinet has also made minor amendment in Uttarakhand Graphic Era hill University Act-2011. With this decision now it would be known as Graphic Era Hill University Act-2011.