Ranchi: Inching a step forward to set up the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Deoghar, the state cabinet on Tuesday resolved to provide 236.92 acres of government land free of cost in Devipur revenue circle of the district for the prestigious hospital project.
The proposed acres fall under gair mazrua khas and gair mazrua aam categories. Stamp duty and registration fee have been waived on the proposed transfer of lands, it was revealed.
Chief minister Raghubar Das has often been heard saying that the proposed AIIMS in Deoghar would become (partially) functional in 2019, which indicates that his government looks at the project as one with potential to impact Lok and Vidhan Sabha elections in the same year.
In another decision with a possible far-reaching impact, the cabinet also agreed to amend regulations on MLAs local area development funds, which will come into effect this fiscal to ensure optimum use of available sums.
Though the amount of Rs 4 crore per annum stays the same, the full sum can now be released at one go, instead of in phases like earlier.
Apparently, this decision was taken so that new or ongoing projects in respective districts don't face funds crunch midway.
Also, Rs 3 crore comes under untied funds head and Rs 50 lakh on open-defecation-free project work like before, but now Rs 20 lakh has to be spent to install solar street lights and/or gift milk to schoolchildren and the rest Rs 30 lakh on projects as per the discretion of the MLA concerned, clarified development commissioner Amit Khare.
This tweak appears to give more flexibility on how Rs 30 lakh would be spent. So far, under the old rule, Rs 50 lakh had been earmarked for spending on drinking water projects only.
Other decisions
• The budget session of the state Assembly will be held during January 17 to February 7, 2018. The annual budget for the next fiscal will be laid in the Assembly on January 23
• The state government would be inking a tripartite agreement with NITI Aayog, the Centre and Boston Consulting Group to improve quality of education and manage schools better
• Four posts of research scholars and a campus administrator have been sanctioned for the Jharkhand Judicial Academy. These appointments would be on contractual basis
• For preserving and enriching indigenous culture, Tribal Art and Culture Centres named Manjhi House, Manki-Munda House, Pargana House and Dharampuria House would be set up across the state. Group comprising between seven and 11 members of the particular tribal community would be engaged in setting up these houses on the recommendations of their respective traditional gram sabhas
• The Jharkhand Public Service Commission regulations have been amended to grant promotions to different categories of gazetted officers in the state cadre
• Regulations have been amended for hiring and firing (removing) contractual labourers. Earlier a contractor had to stick to various norms if he or she engagedmore than 20 labourers. Now these rules will be applicable only in those establishments, where more than 50 labourers are engaged
• Amendments were approved in medical fitness regulations for land surveyors at the time of their appointment
• Amended GST notifications were approved with retrospective effect from July.
