Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: The Cabinet which met here today under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, approved appointment of Justice (retd) B L Bhat, former Judge of the J&K High Court as President of the J&K State Consumer Redressal Commission (SCRC).
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of retired IAS officer Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari as Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Exami-nations (BoPEE).
The Cabinet accorded sanction to the creation of five posts of Secretaries in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Out of the 5 posts created, two posts are of Secretaries in the Selection Grade of Rs 12,000-16500 (pre-revised) and three posts in the Special Scale of Rs 14300-18300 (pre-revised).
The Cabinet accorded sanction to the creation of 172 posts of Data Entry Operators in the pay band of Rs.5200-20200 + GP of 1900, by corresponding reduction of 172 positions of CIC Operators, who have been engaged up to the cut of date i.e. 28th April, 2010 and to whom the provisions of J&K, Civil Services (Special Provisions), Act, 2010 apply.
The Cabinet accorded sanction to the transfer of State land measuring 1309 kanals and 2 marlas situated at village Awantipora in Pulwama district in favour of Health and Medical Education Department, for establishment of an AIIMS like institution.
The Cabinet approved transfer of State land measuring 89 kanals situated at village Thandapani, tehsil Sunderbani, district Rajouri, in favour of the Higher Education Department for establishment of a Government Degree College at Sunderbani.
The Cabinet also approved allotment of 80 kanals of land at Industrial Growth Centre, Samba Phase III instead of Estate Ghatti, Kathua to the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Govern-ment of India for setting up of a Technology Centre/ Tool Room, costing Rs.100 crore on lease basis under the J&K, Land Grants Act, 1960 and rules framed there-under.
The Cabinet approved revision in the sale rates of various coniferous species of timber in A, B and C concession zones for the year 2016-17. The proposed rate has been enhanced by 20% in A zone, 25% in B and 30% in C zone areas.
The Cabinet also approved revision in the sale rates of firewood in the State supplied for religious and institutional purposes.
The Cabinet which accorded sanction to the creation of an independent and separate department of ‘Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction’ (DMRRR).
Till date the business of Relief and Rehabilitation department was assigned to the Revenue department. However, based on the experiences of earthquake of 2005 and the devastating floods of September-2014, it was felt appropriate to have a separate department for Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, considering the importance of timely , adequate and focused response to natural disasters.
The Cabinet approved the recommendation of the Empowered Committee to enhance the mandate of the Science & Technology department to take up small Hydel Projects upto 10MW Capacity through the PPP mode.
The Cabinet directed that PDD and the S&T departments shall suitably amend the current Hydro Development Policies being implemented by JAKEDA & JKSPDC to make the Policies investor friendly for attracting private investments in the development of the hydro sector in the State.
Meanwhile, to prevent misuse of Government funds and loss to the State exchequer, the Cabinet accorded sanction to the proposal of the Finance department to put in place Codal provisions for sanctioning Mobilization Advance in respect of Government works.
The step was aimed at plugging loop holes on Mobilization Advance given to contractors and ensure its proper utilization.
Under these Codal provisions, unless a particular scheme of the State or the Centre Government provides for grant of mobilization, no such advance is to be granted to the contractor. Mobilization Advance shall not exceed 10% of the tendered value and restricted to works costing Rs 2 Cr or more.
Recovery of Mobilization Advance shall be time based and not linked with progress of work. Mobilization Advance shall be released in two or more installments against Bank Guarantee from a Nationalized Bank.
The Cabinet accorded sanction to the implementation of the ‘High Density Apple Plantation Scheme’ by the Horticulture department.
In his 2015-16 Budget speech, the Finance Minister had announced establishment of High Density Plantation Orchards in the State and earmarked Rs 150 cr under the ‘Secure Horticulture Future’ initiative, envisaging raising average production from the current level of 10 MT/Ha to the international level of 40-70 MT/Ha.
Under the Scheme the normative expenditure and sharing pattern (per Ha) will be 100 % in respect of public sector and 50:50 basis between State Government and beneficiaries in respect of private sector. The Horticulture Department shall sign MoU with the beneficiary clearly mentioning the role and responsibilities of stake holders together with normative cost and sharing pattern and other terms and conditions envisaged in the proposal.
The planting material shall firstly be procured by the department at 100% cost and then 10% cost shall be recovered from the beneficiaries against delivery which shall be deposited in the Government Treasury. The source of funding shall be met from Capex Budget provisions for 2016-17.
The Cabinet instructed the Horticulture department to work out a similar scheme for Mango and Apricot Plantation also.
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