SHILLONG, March 28 – Exhibiting concern for environment, the Cabinet today approved implementation of several new schemes in Meghalaya, including the much-talked about Integrated Basin Development and livelihood (IBD&L) programme.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said after the Cabinet meeting that an initial amount of Rs 15 crore has been earmarked for the IBD&L programme. Moreover, another ten crore has been earmarked for two other new programmes.
The IBD&L, he said, would help replenish the depleting ground water level, protect catchment areas and also integrate various development programmes for people living near water basins.
“Various agriculture, horticulture, tourism programmes would be introduced for people living near water basins and steps would be taken to protect the environment together with the stakeholders,” Sangma said. The IBD&L programme would be directly supervised by Sangma himself with the Chief Secretary, WMS Pariat and other ministers to assist him.
The Cabinet also approved the formation of Meghalaya Water Resource Agency that would help convergence of various State departments having linkages with water resource.
The agency would look into aspects of providing clean safe drinking water, protection of forest, issues related with industries and their effect on water bodies and similar other matters. Sangma said the government has set aside an initial fund of Rs 5 crore for the new agency.
The Cabinet also framed rules for enactment of the Meghalaya Cement Cess Act, 2010 that would eventually pave the way for collecting cess of Rs 20 per metric ton. The state government is likely to generate an additional Rs 12 crore annually from the cess.
“The Cement cess Act was there. Now the Cabinet approved rules to enact the Act so that cess can be levied on cement,” Sangma said. The annually cement production in the state is about six million metric ton.
Creation of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) and Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) was also approved by the Cabinet with an initial fund allotment of Rs. five crore each.
MIE would study employability of youth in the state and introduce new training and counselling programmes, while MIG would provide training to government officials to plug loopholes for better implementation of government programmes.
asssam tribune
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said after the Cabinet meeting that an initial amount of Rs 15 crore has been earmarked for the IBD&L programme. Moreover, another ten crore has been earmarked for two other new programmes.
The IBD&L, he said, would help replenish the depleting ground water level, protect catchment areas and also integrate various development programmes for people living near water basins.
“Various agriculture, horticulture, tourism programmes would be introduced for people living near water basins and steps would be taken to protect the environment together with the stakeholders,” Sangma said. The IBD&L programme would be directly supervised by Sangma himself with the Chief Secretary, WMS Pariat and other ministers to assist him.
The Cabinet also approved the formation of Meghalaya Water Resource Agency that would help convergence of various State departments having linkages with water resource.
The agency would look into aspects of providing clean safe drinking water, protection of forest, issues related with industries and their effect on water bodies and similar other matters. Sangma said the government has set aside an initial fund of Rs 5 crore for the new agency.
The Cabinet also framed rules for enactment of the Meghalaya Cement Cess Act, 2010 that would eventually pave the way for collecting cess of Rs 20 per metric ton. The state government is likely to generate an additional Rs 12 crore annually from the cess.
“The Cement cess Act was there. Now the Cabinet approved rules to enact the Act so that cess can be levied on cement,” Sangma said. The annually cement production in the state is about six million metric ton.
Creation of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) and Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) was also approved by the Cabinet with an initial fund allotment of Rs. five crore each.
MIE would study employability of youth in the state and introduce new training and counselling programmes, while MIG would provide training to government officials to plug loopholes for better implementation of government programmes.
asssam tribune
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