A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today decided to establish model schools in 201 educationally backward development blocks. Syllabus of Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education will be adopted for these model schools meant for class VI to XII. One section in each class will be conducted through Hindi and English mediums. Structure of posts, service conditions etc in these model schools will be decided by the State Government as per the norms fixed by the Union Government. Of these, 33 schools were sanctioned in year 2009-10 and 168 schools in 2010-11.The expenditure on the construction of each of 168 model school buildings sanctioned in 2010-11 will be Rs. 3.02 crore as non-recurring expenditure and Rs. 75 lakh as recurring expenditure. In this way, a sum of Rs. 607.02 crore non-recurring and Rs. 150.75 crore recurring expenditure will be made on 201 model schools. State’s share will be 25% in this. Accordingly, the State Government will make available a sum of Rs. 151 crore 75 lakh as non-recurring expenditure and Rs. 37.68 crore as recurring expenditure.
New polytechnics
The cabinet decided to open 7 new polytechnic colleges. These colleges will be opened in Jatara in Tikamgarh district, Pawai in Panna district, Sendhwa in Barwani district, Nasrullahganj in Sehore district, Itarsi in Hoshangabad district, Rajgarh district headquarters and Sironj in Vidisha district.
Orders have been issued to start the process of admission to these colleges for the academic session 2011-12. The State Government has provided free of cost lands for the new polytechnic colleges and development charge as well all the recurring expenses regarding the lands will be borne by the State Government. At least four diploma courses will be conducted in these colleges. Admissions to these colleges will be made as per State Government’s rules. The new polytechnic colleges will be under the State Government and will be of autonomous nature. These colleges will be affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi Praudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya for their academic works. Every year 1680 students will benefit from these colleges.
No VAT on mobile recharge vouchers
The cabinet decided to amend through ordinance the Madhya Pradesh VAT Adhiniyam 2002 to keep rechargeable vouchers of mobile phone VAT-free. It may be mentioned that Commissioner, Commercial Taxes had passed an order on August 30, 2010 in connection with taxability at the rate of 13 percent by considering rechargeable coupons as ‘goods’. As a result, demand was raised by assessing tax liability of small traders. Traders connected with this business had sought exemption from tax liability. This decision has been taken after considering this demand of the traders.
Hindi University
The cabinet decided to name the Hindi University to be set up at Bhopal after former Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. A sum of Rs. 2.34 crore has been sanctioned for construction of the university’s building. This university is proposed to be commenced from December 25, the birthday of Shri Vajpayee. The university will be started with three faculties and 9 educational departments. Sanction has been given to 27 teaching and 35 non-teaching posts for establishment of the university. The teaching posts include 8 professors, one director, 9 associate professors and 9 assistant professors. Similarly, the 35 non-teaching posts include vice-chancellor, registrar and others. The State Government will bear all the non-recurring expenses on the establishment of the university and recurring expenses including salaries and allowances.
Collectors authorised for exchange of lands
The cabinet decided to authorise collectors to exchange government lands with the private lands if the private lands come under the areas earmarked for Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojna or other government projects. Endorsing the recommendations of the cabinet committee constituted in this regard, the cabinet decided that government lands can be exchanged with private lands in only unavoidable cases for the construction of any government project. Exchange of land cannot be undertaken in other cases.
If it becomes unavoidable to acquire private land for government purposes in urban administration and development plan areas, then the collector will forward the proposal for exchange of land through commissioner to the State Government. The collector will take decision only after endorsement by the state government.
Only minimum necessary government land will be exchanged for government purposes. The concerning department will fix the quantum of minimum necessity. The prices of government and private lands should be equivalent to the prevalent market prices. In no case government land of more value than the private land will be exchanged.
Coal from Ameliya coal block
The cabinet decided to supply coal to Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company for use in its power plants for generating power. Sixty percent coal from the 288 million tonnes of excavatable deposits in Singrauli district’s Ameliya coal block, which has been allotted to Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation, at 20 percent less than the rates notified by Northern Coalfields Limited. Required quantity of coal will be supplied to the company after receipt of necessary permissions from Ministry for Environment and Forests of Government of India, following which all the thermal plants of the company will be able to work to their full capacity and the capacity will also be enhanced. It has been decided to give rest of 40% coal, whose quantity is approximately 115 million tonnes, to those power plants construction work of which is progressing fast and which are going to start production soon.
Coal will be supplied to two private sector power plants as per the norms fixed by the inter-department committee set up by the State Government in this connection. These two companies will be able to generate 1260 MW power by using this coal. These private sector power plants will supply about 400 MW power to the state which is about 30 percent.
Two BoT roads sanctioned
The cabinet gave sanction to the construction of two roads under BoT mode. One of these is Panna-Amanganj-Simariya Road (Highway No. 47) which is 58.20 km long. Sanction of Rs. 97.13 crore has been given for construction of this road under BOT.
Another road is Uchehra-Nagod-Kalinjar (Highway No. 56) which is 55.6 km long. A sanction of Rs. 115.20 crore has been given to build this road under BOT mode.
The concession period of both these roads will be 15 years and toll will be recovered as per the toll policy of the State Government.
Other decisions
The cabinet accorded sanction for creation of five new posts as per requirement of technical officers and technicians in the office of Commissioner, New and Renewable Energy, with a view to increasing power generation and energy-efficiency by using latest technologies.
The cabinet while amending Madhya Pradesh Karya-Avantan Niyam decided to entrust the works related to departmental exams by the Home Department to RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management under the General Administration Department. Earlier, this work was done by Mussoorie Academy.
The cabinet decided to withdraw the work of fire brigade from the Home Department and hand it over to the Urban Administration and Development Department and also decided to constitute a Firebrigade Directorate under the same department.
The cabinet decided to increase the jurisdiction of Bhopal-based Awas Avantan Nigam by including the areas of Kolar Municipality in it apart from Bhopal Municipal Corporation areas. As a consequence of this decision licence fees under 45 (B) will be charged from officers and employees if they or any member of their family have a private house in the areas under Bhopal Municipal Corporation and Kolar municipality areas in their place of posting.
The cabinet also endorsed the new Internal Audit Manual prepared by the Finance Department. Till now, the audit manual issued in year 1988-89 was applicable. In the new Audit Manual, performance audit as well as procedural audit of departments/schemes will be undertaken. Besides, a provision of IT Audit has also been made.
The cabinet sanctioned creation of 16 posts of judge and staff for establishment of Civil Court Class-2 in Rampur Naikin in Sidhi district.
The cabinet gave permission to promulgate an amendment ordinance/Bill 2001 presented in connection with Swami Vivekanand Private University, Sagar and AKS Private University, Satna.
The cabinet decided to give exemption from payment of fees for purchase of tender form by single bidder of first tender invitation if second tender is invited without opening his tender for the same work is invited due to only one bid received in response to the first tender invitation.