Cabinet approves one time settlement scheme for buildings, late surcharge waiver on power bills
Various important decisions were taken in the meeting of the state cabinet presided over by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday. The cabinet approved the proposal to provide exemption from late payment surcharge on electricity bills for various categories of customers.
Further, it was also decided that a one time settlement scheme will also be implemented to enable approval of unauthorised constructions on the basis of circle rates prevalent eight years ago. Since the Vidhan Sabha has been called in the session, no formal briefing of the cabinet decisions was held. However, according to sources, the cabinet took up a total of 24 proposals during its meeting. The cabinet approved waiver of late payment surcharge on electricity bills for domestic, commercial (upto 75 kilowatt), LT industrial and private tubewell connections. It is estimated that if the consumers pay 70 per cent of about Rs 1,000 crore due, the state government will have to bear a financial burden of about Rs 230 crore.
This scheme will be applicable for three months after issuance of the government order and will affect about six lakh electricity consumers. In another decision that will provide relief to thousands of building owners in the state, the cabinet approved a one time settlement scheme to pass the building maps of unauthorised buildings on the basis of 2012 circle rates. The application fees for this will be Rs 2,500 in mountainous regions and Rs 5,000 in the plains. Another decision the cabinet took will enable about 37 lakh women in the state to become co-holders of land and property. The cabinet has approved the Uttarakhand (Uttar Pradesh Abolition of Zamindari and Land Reforms Act) Amendment ordinance 2021.
The rights which women will get as a result will enable them to secure loans more conveniently from banks and other institutions for starting an enterprise or other works. According to sources, the cabinet also approved the budget to be tabled in the budget session of the assembly.
Thursday, 18 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
