15 Jan : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday cleared the proposal for four-laning of Cuddapah-Mydukur-Kurnool section(167.750 km to 356.030 km) of National Highway-18 in Andhra Pradesh and National Highways Development Project(NHDP) Phase III.
The project has been given on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (BOT/DFOT) basis, Minister for Home Affairs P Chidambaram said reporters in New Delhi on Thursday after the CCA meeting.
The project cost was estimated at Rs 1754.12 crore, including cost of Land Acquisition(LA), Rehabilitation and Resettlement and pre-construction.The Government would provide the viability gap funding(VGF), which would not exceed 40 per cent of the total project cost excluding these costs.
The National Highways Authority of India(NHAI) will develop the cost through private concessionaires to be selected by itself following two-stage bidding process.The first stage of prequalification of the two bidders had already been completed by NHAI. The second stage was in progress.
The concession period for both the sub-projects was kept at 30 years, including 910 days of construction period.CCEA approves water projects’ plan extension
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved the continuation of a scheme to prepare detailed reports of various projects, including river links during the XIth Five Year Plan.
The ‘Investigation of Water Resources Development Schemes’ having an outlay of Rs 222.80 crore, would result in preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for river linking and irrigation projects in the country under the National Perspective Plan, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting on Thursday.
He said as the DPRs establish techno-economic viability of the projects, the investment in preparing such reports result in the optimal development of water resources.The optimal development of water resources eventually leads to an increased agriculture production.
A number of long-term studies on geology, seismology, hydrology and environment are required to prepare a DPR.Crop premium, mkt and transport charges to feature in MSP
The government said it will take into account the premium paid by farmers for crop insurance as well as marketing and transport charges incurred while fixing the minimum support price of various crops.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) will consider following items of cost for recommending MSP premium paid by farmers for crop insurance and marketing and transport charges incurred by farmers.
The CACP is an advisory body that recommends the minimum support price for over 20 crops grown during the Kharif and Rabi seasons."The CCEA approved the recommendations of expert committee to examine methodological issues in fixing MSP," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Professor Y K Alagh on 7th May, 2003 and they submitted their report on 31st May, 2005, he said.
Stating that the matter was going on for the last four years, Chidambaram said the expert committee report was looked into and in accordance with their recommendation, the CCEA has approved the methodology for fixing the MSP and also the terms of reference of the CACP.
The CCEA approved that the CACP would consider quality aspects of the produce in its price and non-price recommendations.Besides, it also decided that a technical committee will be constituted to look into the existing survey schedule for cost studies and it will be modified, if necessary.
The CCEA approved that a joint study will be conducted by CACP and DES to ascertain the actual spread of expenditure vis-a-vis borrowing during the crop season for assessing the interest burden on the farmers.