The Hindu : Other States / Madhya Pradesh News : More funds to better power system

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Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

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Other States - Madhya Pradesh

More funds to better power system

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, SEPT 29. The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet today gave approval for capital investment for projects to be funded by Asian Development Bank loan to strengthen and upgrade electricity transmission, sub-transmission and distribution system in the State. The Cabinet, at a meeting presided by Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, also decided to provide relief to farmers whose crops have been damaged by pests.

Briefing press persons, the State Minister for Industries, Kailash Chawla, said the projects cleared by the Cabinet included Rs. 589 crores for strengthening and upgradation of transmission system; Rs. 244.39-crore project for strengthening and upgradation of sub-transmission & distribution system in Indore, Ujjain and Gwalior circles; Rs. 102.48-crore project for distribution systems in Khargone , Mandsaur and Bajalpur circles; Rs. 33.88-crore project for strengthening and upgradation of sub-transmission and distribution systems in Bhopal city circle.

Mr. Chawla said of the total loan amount being received through the Centre, 30 percent would be provided as grant by the State Government as share capital to the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board and on the remaining 70 percent of the loan amount, interest at the rate of 12 per cent would be imposed on the State Electricity Board.

Mr. Chawla said the Cabinet also decided to provide assistance to the farmers whose crops have been damaged by pests. Assistance would be provided at the rate of Rs. 2000 per hectare as per the provisions of the Revenue Book of Circulars. This assistance would be treated as special grant-in-aid, he said, adding that about 94,728 hectares of agricultural land in eight districts have been affected by pests.

The Cabinet further decided that tax concession would be provided to only those school buses across the State that are exclusively engaged in transporting school students and no other passengers. These school buses would be required to be painted yellow with `School Bus' prominently written on them. In case any school bus is found transporting other passengers, a fine of Rs. 75,000 would be imposed on it and the owner would be made to pay the prescribed tax from the date of its registration. With this announcement, the two-day strike by school bus operators came to an end.

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