Lucknow: The Council of Ministers has approved the ‘Operation and Maintenance Policy for Pipe Drinking Water Schemes in Rural Areas of Uttar Pradesh-2024’ in place of Operation and Maintenance Policy-2015 for piped drinking water supply schemes in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh. The Council of Ministers has authorized the Chief Minister in case amendments in the policy are inevitable and necessary.
It is noteworthy that the State Government has issued ‘Operation and Maintenance Policy-2015 for Uttar Pradesh Rural Drinking Water Pipe Supply Schemes’ by Government Order No.-111/38-5-2015-36 Sam/2013 dated 09 February, 2015 regarding the operation and monitoring of piped drinking water schemes in the rural areas of the state.
In the year 2019, the Government of India started ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ by incorporating the National Rural Drinking Water Program under Jal Jeevan Mission and from the year 2017-18, the provision of quantified 15 percent funds for operation and maintenance of pipe drinking water schemes by the Government of India was abolished.
It has been proposed to make the required budgetary arrangement from the State Finance Commission / State Budget for the operation and maintenance of pipe drinking water schemes operated under ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ and pipe drinking water schemes previously operated and maintained by Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural). In view of this, in place of the previously issued ‘Operation and Maintenance Policy for Drinking Water Pipe Water Supply Schemes in Rural Areas of Uttar Pradesh-2015’, ‘Operation and Maintenance Policy of Pipe Drinking Water Schemes in Rural Areas of Uttar Pradesh-2024’ has been promulgated.
With the implementation of this policy, by operating the pipe drinking water schemes in the rural areas of the state as per the prescribed standards, continuous and adequate supply of clean drinking water to the villagers as per the prescribed standards can be ensured.
Proposal for amendment/increase in the current scholarship rates applicable from the year 2001 for students studying in Sanskrit schools/colleges approved
The cabinet decided to amend/increase the current scholarship rates applicable from the year 2001 for students studying in Sanskrit schools/colleges in Uttar Pradesh and provide scholarship to all students studying in Sanskrit schools/colleges in the state as per the revised rates.
Accordingly, the cabinet has approved the proposal to provide Rs. 50 per month for Prathama for class 6 and class 7, Rs. 75 per month for class 8, Rs. 100 per month for Purva Madhyama (class 9 and class 10), Rs. 150 per month for Uttar Madhyama (class 11 and class 12), Rs. 200 per month for Shastri and Rs. 250 per month for Acharya.
The Council of Ministers has authorized the Chief Minister to make any further amendments/additions in the proposed rates, process and system. It is estimated that 01 lakh 21 thousand 573 students will benefit from the implementation of the proposal. Also, an expenditure of Rs 19 crore 65 lakh 94 thousand 800 is likely.
The Council of Ministers has also decided to implement the scholarship scheme offline as per the revised rates/arrangement for scholarship of Sanskrit students in the current financial year 2024-25 and to implement the online system from the next financial year. Regarding operation of tourist accommodation houses operated by Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. through private entrepreneurs on the basis of management contract to provide better residential and food facilities to domestic and foreign tourists visiting the state
The Council of Ministers has approved the proposal to operate tourist accommodation houses operated by Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. through private entrepreneurs on the basis of management contract to provide better residential and food facilities to domestic and foreign tourists visiting the state. The Chief Minister has been authorized for further action/amendment in the matter.
According to the presented proposal, the units operated by Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation will be expanded for the next 15 years through private entrepreneurs/institutions with a condition of minimum 15 years period and thereafter 15 percent increase in lease rent. Provision of 5 percent increase in the amount given by the investor to the Tourism Corporation every year will also be made.
The income earned by the Tourism Corporation on operating the units received as share capital from the government on managerial contract will be considered as the income of the Tourism Corporation. 50 percent of the amount received on operating the remaining units on managerial contract will be deposited in the account of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation as handling fee and 50 percent of the amount will be deposited in the treasury. For this, the Board of Directors of the Tourism Corporation has been authorized to determine and implement the conditions / rules for the tender process.
It is known that there are immense possibilities of tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Providing quality residential and food facilities to the tourists, encouraging tourism, operating entertainment places will increase the number of tourists here.
For the purpose of encouraging private tourism entrepreneurs in the state and creating new employment opportunities, it would be appropriate that the units operated by the corporation should be given a minimum period of 15 years and 15 years in a phased manner.
Thereafter, tenders should be invited and operated for extension on the basis of mutual consent for the next 15 years. Operation of units of private entrepreneurs will lead to qualitative improvement in the facilities provided to tourists, encourage entrepreneurship and also generate new employment opportunities.
Regarding providing the benefit of power supply through 02 grid lines to the investor under ‘Uttar Pradesh Data Center (First Amendment) Policy-2021’
The Council of Ministers has approved the proposal to provide the benefit of power supply through 02 grid lines to M/s SKVR Software Solution Private Limited under the provisions of ‘Uttar Pradesh Data Center (First Amendment) Policy-2021’. Under this, the cost of 01 grid (whichever is less in both the grids, which is Rs 56 crore 40 lakh in the case under consideration) will be reimbursed to the investor by the IT and Electronics Department and the cost of the other grid will be borne by the Data Center Park (Investor Unit).
It is noteworthy that in view of the importance of the data center sector, the Uttar Pradesh Data Center Policy was notified by the State Government in January 2021 and in view of the targets set for the period of 05 years being achieved ahead of time, ‘Uttar Pradesh Data Center (First Amendment) Policy-2021’ has been notified by notification dated 07 November, 2022. The target is to develop 900 MW data center industry in the state, invest Rs 30,000 crore in the state and establish at least 08 state-of-the-art private data center parks.
Under the policy, various non-financial incentives are allowed to data center parks and data center units in addition to capital subsidy, interest subsidy, exemption in stamp duty on purchase/lease of land and energy related financial incentives. There is a provision of additional incentives for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions.
Under the original policy, there was a provision to provide dual grid power network to the first 03 data center parks established in the state, whereas in the ‘Uttar Pradesh Data Center (First Amendment) Policy-2021’, there is a provision to provide dual grid power network to the first 08 data center parks established in the state after notification. Under the provisions of the policy, the cost of 01 grid (whichever is less among the two grids) will be reimbursed by the IT and Electronics Department and the cost of the other grid will be borne by the Data Center Park.
Data Center Parks will also have other data center units. With the establishment of Data Center Parks, India and the state will be able to move towards becoming self-reliant in data storage. This will improve the data center eco-system within the state and will also increase GDP.
As a result of the establishment and industrialization of Data Center Parks / units, direct and indirect employment will be obtained in the state, which will lead to socio-economic upliftment of the general public. As a result of this, other units of this sector will also come up in the state and due to competition among them, corruption in this sector will also increase in the state and new technology will also be developed in the times to come.
