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Haryana Govt. to release first instalment for Metro

Special Correspondent

Total cost of the 7.05 km project is Rs.570 crores

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Cabinet, which met here on Saturday, decided that the next session of the State Legislative Assembly be convened from September 18.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda disclosed that the Cabinet also decided to release Rs.141.75 crores as the first instalment for extension of Delhi Metro to Gurgaon. The total cost of the 7.05 km project starting from Delhi-Haryana border and entering Gurgaon to terminate near Sector 29 is Rs.570 crores, excluding the cost of land and rolling stock. This expenditure will be shared by the State and Central governments in the ratio of 80:20.

The Cabinet also decided to give a grant of Rs.111 crores for funding of the Delhi segment of Delhi Metro up to the Delhi-Gurgaon border. The project would be completed by June 2010.

It also decided to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Finance to review and rationalise the posts in its various departments.

Mr. Hooda said the committee would decide on creating new posts, if required in any department, to meet the needs in view of changing scenario and also decide on abolishing or renaming those posts which have lost their purpose. It would submit its report to the Government by March 31 next.

He disclosed that the Government had earmarked Rs.50 crores for use Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as recommended by the Second State Finance Commission.

The Cabinet approved the revised guidelines for use of funds to be tabled in the ensuing session of the State Assembly.

It also approved the draft of the Haryana Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Second Amendment Bill-2006. According to the amendment, the pension for members of the Vidhan Sabha would be enhanced from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month. If any person has served as a member for a period exceeding five years, he would continue to be paid an additional pension of Rs. 600 per month for every year in excess of five years.

At present, about 360 former MLAs are getting pension in Haryana.

The Government also decided to reduce VAT on timber from 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent to bring it at par with the tax in neighbouring Delhi thus benefiting both the dealers and consumers to the tune of Rs.10 crores per year in Haryana.

The VAT on industrial tools has also been reduced to 4 per cent in accordance with the decision of the empowered committee of State Finance Ministers.

The Cabinet also stipulated that family pension would be admissible from the date following the date of death of the employee while in service.

Board reconstituted

The Haryana Government has reconstituted the Mewat Development Board with the Governor, A.R.Kidwai, as its Chairman and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as Senior Vice-Chairman.

The other members are the Finance, Revenue, Agriculture, Industries, Development and Panchayats, Cooperation, Irrigation, Animal Husbandry and Power. Ministers of the Haryana Government, MPs and MLAs representing the Mewat area have also been included. Commissioner Gurgaon Division will be the Member-Secretary of the Board.

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Haryana Govt. to release first instalment for Metro

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