J&K Council of Ministers approves DA revision, other agenda proposals
Jammu, Jan 20: J&K Council of Ministers, which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Civil Secretariat here, Monday cleared all the proposals in its agenda, including the revision of Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to the government employees, pensioners w.e.f., July 1, 2024.
However, with regard to the date for the budget session, official sources stated that the Council did not finalise any date to be recommended to the Lieutenant Governor for his approval.
“However, consensus was to hold the session by mid or end of February. It is very likely that the J&K Government recommends to the Lieutenant Governor to call the Budget session by February end - as was the earlier practice. Final proposal cleared by the cabinet will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor for his approval which will be followed by a notification (by LG),” sources stated.
With regard to other agenda items, sources said that proposals related to J&K Excise Policy; Amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 also got approval of the Council of Ministers.
However, they would get final clearance only after the nod of the Lieutenant Governor.
Other agenda items which were cleared by the Council today included implementation of a 3-tier faculty structure in Government Dental College, Srinagar, and Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, as per the norms of the Dental Council of India (DCI) on staffing patterns; accord of administrative approval for key proposals mooted by the Housing & Urban Development Department viz., dumpsite remediation through biomining and bioremediation of 11.00 Lakh MTs of legacy waste at Achan dumping site, Srinagar, at an estimated cost of Rs. 60.50 Cr (Rs. 33.00 Cr from 14th FC and Rs. 27.50 Cr from SBM 2.0); pollution abatement and conservation of River Jhelum at Chuntkul and Gawkadal areas in Srinagar, at an estimated cost of Rs. 6445.68 lakh (Rs. 6380.68 lakh under the National River Conservation Plan) and pollution abatement and conservation of River Banganga at Katra Town, at an estimated cost of Rs 92.10 Cr under the National River Conservation Plan.
Construction of a new hospital block for the emergency operation theatre at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar and proposal regarding dispensing with oral tests or interviews for posts in pay level-6, as recommended by the J&K Service Selection Board too were approved by the cabinet, sources said.