Jaipur, 17 June. Various important decisions were taken including approval to the amendment in ‘Wind Energy Policy-2012’ during the state cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister’s office on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje.

Talking to the media after the cabinet meeting, parliamentary affairs minister Shri Rajendra Rathore informed that with the objective of promoting the wind energy generation in the state and to attract more investors in this sector, the cabinet gave its nod to the amendment in the “Policy for Promoting Generation of Electricity from Wind-2012”. The decision would pave way for setting up the plants having 400 MW of capacity annually and bring investment of around 2500 crore.

The cabinet also gave nod for purchase of wind power by the Discoms on preferential rates set by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission in place of competitive tender process abiding by the limits set by the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) till 2015-16. The cabinet also gave approval to the proposal related to permitting wind energy producers for selling the wind power to other states under the rules and regulations provided for open excess.

The parliamentary affairs minister informed that the cabinet also decided that a committee would be constituted to review the provisions of the allotment of government land for setting up wind energy plants. It will also consider the likely options related to transfer of plants from government land to the private land. It will also work to promote private land holders to set up wind energy plants on private land, he informed.

Pension & Other Schemes to Continue:

The decisions of the previous government were reviewed during the cabinet meet and it was decided that the pension scheme will continue and eligible persons will receive their pension. Around 3400 crore are being spent over 56 lakh families under pension scheme, informed Shri Rathore. The government will provide required amount to develop infrastructure facilities in villages selected under ‘Sambal Gram Vikas Yojana’ and provisions will be made for the remaining villages in the coming budget, he added. Financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh for inter-cast marriage will continue and the sanction will be given for the post-matric scholarship. Schemes run previously for the economically backward classes would remain unaffected.

It was decided in the cabinet meeting that the state government would review these schemes if necessary but they will not be closed down.

Jansunvai on Every Wednesday:

On every Wednesday division-wise public-hearing will be made at Chief Minister’s level while members of the council of ministers will arrange Jansunvai on Wednesday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The cabinet decided to think over new policy being prepared by the Urban Development department for all the cases related to allotment of land on concessional rates. Shri Rathore informed that it was decided that in the cases put up for the consideration would be reviewed and decided through a transparent policy.

SARKAR AAPKE DWAR in BIKANER:

Under Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme the state government machinery will be in Bikaner division from 19 to 30^th June, 2014. The Chief Minister will hold a meeting of the council of ministers and secretaries of various departments on June 19 and will give necessary instructions regarding the tour, informed Shri Rathore.

From 20 to 22 June the ministers will be on an intensive tour of the rural areas of their respective Panchayat Samitis. Each minister will tour 10 to 15 Gram Panchayat headquarters and will take stock of the situation regarding progress of implementation of the government schemes. After completing their tours the ministers would submit detailed reports to the Chief Minister.

Shri Rathore informed that on 23^rd June there will be public hearing on Panchayat Samiti headquarters and the complaints received during these public hearings will be given a certain reference number and will be monitored by the Chief Minister’s office.

In the second phase from 24 to 29^th June all ministers would visit the districts in-addition to the district they are in-charge and will monitor the activities of their concerned department. On 30^th June cabinet meeting will be held in Bikaner and all the problems and field reports will be put up during this cabinet meet and decisions will be taken accordingly.

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje will be on Bikaner tour on June 19^th in the first phase and from June 24 to 30^th in the second phase.