The Cabinet in its meeting held here today accorded approval for making amendments in Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2016 by replacing Ordinance number 1/2016, promulgated to compound the deviations of unauthorized buildings.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh.
In view of the objections and suggestions received from the public, the Cabinet decided to retain the structures on “as is where is” basis.
The buildings will be compounded on ‘as is where is’ basis without any kind of open space requirements in the form of ‘set-backs’. The parking floors, if converted to other use, will be considered for regularization if alternate parking place is made available. Apart from this, such parking floors that have been converted to some other use for the want of connecting road/path would also be regularized.
The compounding fee has been further reduced to almost half to what was proposed in the ordinance. It will be charged on a flat rate of Rs. 800 per square meter in Municipal area and Rs 400 per square meter in rural areas for the deviations made by those who have got their plans approved. Further, for totally unauthorised construction, the compounding rates would be Rs 1200 and Rs. 600 per square meter for urban and rural areas respectively.
The Bill proposes to allow filing of applications within sixty days from the date of publication of the amendment Act.
Those who have obtained benefits under earlier retention policies will also be considered for regularisation. The applicants will have to produce affidavit to the effect that they have not encroached upon any other persons/ Government/authorities land and has not raised any constructions over the control width of PWD or National Highways. The owners of such buildings which are not in the municipal or TCP area need not to apply for regularisation.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to regularize the part time Water Carriers-cum-Peons on daily wages basis working in Higher/ Elementary Education department appointed under 1996 policy and who have rendered 17 years of continuous service as PTWC or peons on daily wages (combined) till 31st March 2016 and 30th September, 2016. It was also decided that the options be given to them after regularisation for posting and adjustment in another district against vacant or surplus posts.
Decision was taken to approve the Draft Bill to make provision for regularisation of retailers of Tobacco products in Himachal Pradesh, which would provide for prohibition on sale of loose Cigarettes and Beedies and regulation of retail business of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The bill would be placed in the assembly.
The Cabinet also decided to frame Himachal Pradesh Home Guards Welfare Rules, 2016 to benefit the Home Guards Volunteers and their families as the funds for their welfare will be raised by the contribution of Home Guards Volunteers at the rate of Rs 120 annually or in the form of donations received.
The Cabinet approved procuring Mustard Oil for all ration card holders, from the L-1 bidder, i.e. M/s Ruchi Soya Industries ltd., Parwanoo as per the tenders opened on 8th August 2016.
Approval was accorded to HP Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2016, wherein the State Government will have to nominate five persons having special knowledge of Municipal and experience of Municipal administration. The bill also proposes to enhance the financial powers of the commissioner besides enhancing the penalties under the Municipal laws which were not sufficient at present so as to make them more deterrent. Similarly, to control the growing number of stray dogs population, it has been proposed to make a provision for sterilization/ vaccination of pets/stray dogs with help of Animal Husbandry Department in Urban and adjoining areas of Municipal Corporation. Further amendments will be approved by Law department.
It Cabinet decided to provide financial assistance to promote film making in the State based on Art & Craft, History, Culture, Archaeology, Language, Literature, Contemporary Arts, Traditional and Tribal Folk Music, dance, drama, Cuisine, Fiction, Tourism, Environment and Social issues etc.
Approval was also accorded to enter into tripartite MoU with GoI, Government of Himachal Pradesh and HPSEBL for implementation of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna (UDAY) to implement the operational and financial turnaround of HPSEBL. This will help in reducing tariff because of reduction in interest and finance cost of HPSEBL upto Rs 68 crore annually. Besides, it will help in enforcing financial discipline on HPSEBL for repayment of the principal amount thereby improving liquidity of HPSEBL upto Rs 400 crore annually.
A decision was taken by the Cabinet to lease out the tourism sites at Jhatingri in district Mandi, Shojha in Banjar in Kullu, Suketi in Sirmour, Baddi in Solan district and at Bilaspur to private sector on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
It was decided that instead of inviting fresh bids the sites may be leased out on PPP mode on long term basis as per terms and conditions already approved and the matter be referred to HP Infrastructure Development Board to work out the practical modalities.
Jobs/Posts to be filled or created
A decision was taken to fill 100 posts of Junior Office Assistants (JOAs) (IT) in Forest Department on contract basis. Nod was given to create 100 posts of JOAs (IT) in the department of Higher Education.
Approval was accorded to create and fill as many as 30 posts of JOAs (IT) on contract basis at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.
Nod was given to create and fill on contract basis through direct recruitment 20 posts of JOAs (IT) in Social Justice and Empowerment department and Filling up of three posts of District Employment Officer in department of Labour and Employment.
Approval was accorded to create two posts of Junior Draftsmen in Special Area Development Authority (SADA), Barog and Kandhaghat respectively in order to regularise the services of Daily wagers working in SADA.
A decision was taken to fill up one post of Junior Scale stenographer and two posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) on contract basis in the office of Advocate General, Shimla and creation of two posts of JOA (IT) on contract basis in Youth Services and Sports department.
It was decided to create and fill one post of Deputy Director, treasuries as faculty at HIPA.
Approval was accorded to fill one post of Reeling Demonstrator on contract basis by direct recruitment in Sericulture wing in Industries department and creation of one post of Junior Office Assistant (JOA) (IT) to be filled up on contract basis in Regional Hospital, Solan.
Approval was accorded to create different categories of posts in Primary Health centre Dhaned in district Hamirpur and creation of one post of JOA (IT) in Health department on contract basis under RKS in Civil Hospital Sunni in district Shimla.
Decision was taken to engage one Dialysis Technician on contract basis through RKS at regional Hospital, Hamirpur.
Other Decisions
The Cabinet gave its nod for enhancement of cadre of Multipurpose Workers (MPW) in Forest department from 50 to 158.
A decision was taken to formulate guidelines for appointment and selection of Additional Anganwari workers-cum-Nutrition Counsellor on honorarium basis in Social Justice and Empowerment department.
It was decided to change land use from Government and Semi Government to parking-cum-commercial complex and relaxation in set backs, height of buildings and in other regulations at Mohal Tarna in district Mandi and Jail road site. Similarly, nod was given for change of land use from agriculture to facilities and services and partly residential use, construction of fire station residential block and rescue tower at Mohal Chadiyara of Mandi Planning area.
It was also decided to empanel as many as 10 State Quality Monitors (SQM) for inspection of NABARD and Central Road Fund (CRF) works in Public Works Department.
It was decided to demolish the Tehsil office Complex at Nadaun to pave the way for construction of Mini Secretariat.
To have additional accommodation for PWD rest house at Ghumarwin and to construct additional accommodation for expanding PWD rest at Dehra in Kangra district.
It was also decided to transfer of land at Mohal Lagore in Nurpur district Kangra for construction of office building of Intelligence Bureau, of Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI.
The decision was taken for construction of houses under Rajeev Awas Yojna (RAY) at Krishnanagar in Shimla.
It was also decided to procure 10,000 laptops to be distributed to the meritorious students under Rajeev Gandhi Digital Yojna for the year 2015-16.
The Cabinet also approved revision of Sundernagar Planning Area.
Health related Issues
The cabinet approved the reservation policy and fee structure for Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Medical College at Nahan in Sirmour and constitute a committee under Chief Secretary.
Approval was accorded to open Primary Health centre at Delath, in Sub-Tehsil Nankhari.
It approved opening of PHC Deol in district Kangra.
Approval was accorded to open Health Sub Centre at Chadoli in district Una along-with creation of two posts.
It was also decided to upgrade Veterinary dispensary Deothi in Shimla district and Chururu in Una district to Vet Hospitals along with requisite posts.
Amendments and Rules
It was also decided to make amendments in Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (Rules of Business & Procedure) Rules 2004.
Approval was accorded to frame rules under the Street Vendors (protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 to protect the rights of Urban street vendors and to regulate the street vending activities and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.