The cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft proposal of Bihar Fire Service Bill, 2013, to ensure construction of fire-resistant buildings and apartments across the state.
“The bill would be tabled before the state legislature for its approval. The bill talks of construction of fire-resistant buildings,” cabinet secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said. This would put an end to the construction of buildings and apartments being built without following fire safety norms.
The cabinet also gave a green light to the proposal of the commercial taxes department to exempt khaini (chewing tobacco) from the tax bracket, Mehrotra said, adding that the department used to charge 20 per cent tax on khaini till June 26, 2012. The quantum of tax was raised from 20 to 30 per cent again with effect from April 1, 2013, he said, while refusing to divulge the quantum of revenue loss to the department from the exemption.
It also gave a nod to Bihar Government Recognised Primary Schools Teachers’ Promotion Rules, 2013, which would pave the way for appointment of principals in Urdu, Sanskrit and Arabic schools.
It also approved the cut-off date of December 11, 1990 for regularisation of work-charged employees (karyabharit karamchari). The decision would benefit around 2,300 employees who have been working as work charge prior to the cut-off date, Mehrotra said.
The cabinet sanctioned a revised cost estimate of Rs 10.74 crore for construction of a divisional jail in Jamui and Rs 48.59 crore for another one in Araria. It also sanctioned a post of procurement specialist in the project management unit. The unit was set up for implementation of Agri Business Infrastructure Development Investment Programme, the cabinet secretary said.
It also gave its approval to set up a police outpost at Jai Bajrang Chowk in Vishnupur Basant village under the jurisdiction of Mehsi police station of East Champaran, he said. The cabinet also approved Rs 8 lakh as grant-in-aid for Anjuman Tarakki-e-Urdu, Bihar, Patna, for the current fiscal of 2013-14, Mehrotra said.
