Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 25: State Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah this afternoon, accorded approval to the release of 7% Dearness Allowance (DA) in favour of Government employees, pensioners and family pensioners with effect from July 2012.
With the approval of 7% DA, the revised rate of DA has gone up to 72% from 65%. The additional burden on State exchequer due to this decision will be Rs 500 crore annually and from July 2012 onwards it will be around Rs 335 crore.
The arrears with effect from July 2012 to September 2012 on account of the enhancement of 7% DA will be paid in cash during the current month and will form part of the monthly salary there onwards.
In case of State Government employees, who are governed by the New Pension Scheme (NPS), 10% of DA arrears from July 2012 to September 2012 will be deducted at source and credited to their individual PRAN numbers along with the matching share of the employer and thereafter the enhanced amount of DA will form part of their monthly salary.
As far as State Government pensioners and family pensioners are concerned, the DA arrears with effect from July to September will be paid in cash during the current month and the enhancement of 7% will form part of their monthly pension there onwards.
The Cabinet also approved the enhancement in power generation capacity of Ratle Hydroelectric Project from 690 Mega Watt to 850 Mega Watt.
Originally the generation capacity for Ratle Hydro Electric Project coming up in Kishtwar district, was 690 MW based on the Detailed Project Report prepared by the NHPC. However, when the project was awarded to M/s GVK Development Projects Limited through international competitive bidding route the company reviewed the DPR and subsequently the capacity of the project was worked out at 850 MW including 30 MW dam toe unit for utilizing the environment flow.
Due to increase in capacity free power will increase from 398.82 Million Units to 470.514 Million Units. Moreover, Local Area Development Fund power will increase from 26.58 Million Units to 31.36 Million Units. With the increase in capacity the upfront premium will also increase from Rs 34.50 crore to Rs 42.50 crore.
The Cabinet also accorded approval to the construction of water supply scheme for Kishtwar town at an estimated cost of Rs 53.15 crore under Special Task Force. This scheme will address the complaints regarding inadequate and contaminated water supply in the Kishtwar town.
Under the project, different service reservoirs of varying capacities will be constructed and the entire scheme will be completed within three years.
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