The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet okays changes in Kishan Ganga project in J&K

Pak objections
Although the earlier project was envisaged way back in 1994, it could not be implemented in view of certain objections raised by Pakistan authorities who contended that it violated Annexure E of the Indus river water agreement between the two countries.

New Delhi , April 18

To end the long-standing dispute on the Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric project, the Union Cabinet has approved modification in National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's 330-MW project in Jammu and Kashmir, opting for a `run-of-the-river' approach instead of a storage dam planned earlier.

Announcing the decision after a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, said although the earlier project was envisaged way back in 1994, it could not be implemented in view of certain objections raised by Pakistan authorities who contended that it violated Annexure E of the Indus river water agreement between the two countries.

"The two sides have been engaged in a dialogue for sometime and the Union Cabinet has now cleared the run-of-the-river hydel project under Annexure D of the treaty. In the first project too also, the electricity proposed to be generated was almost the same level," said Mr Sibal adding that the objections raised in the past pertained to inter-tributary transfer.

Job scheme norms eased

In another proposal, as part of the Prime Minister's reconstruction plan for Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet also approved relaxations in the guidelines of the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana. The total cost of the self-employment package is pegged at nearly Rs 27 crore, said Mr Sibal.

He said that economically weaker sections and low-income group people would not be included as beneficiaries. The project cost ceiling will be Rs 1 lakh for individual beneficiaries and Rs 10 lakh for a group of 10 beneficiaries.

The subsidy will be enhanced to 30 per cent for all categories of people including SCs, STs and women. A contribution of five per cent as margin money by the beneficiaries would also be required. The beneficiaries have the freedom to procure machinery and goods from the market for setting up the micro enterprises, subject to verification by financial institutions.

The easing of norms also includes release of Rs 8.49 crore to J&K under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana during 2006-07 as Central contribution in the ratio of 90:10 (instead of the ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and the State) for implementation of Prime Minister's reconstruction plan.

The Cabinet has also decided to modify the scheme of conversion of the leasehold system of land tenure in Delhi into freehold. It would permit conversion of properties sold through regular sale deed on payment of conversion fee along with a surcharge of 33 per cent. It would also allow conversion of flats and floors as well as shops in multi-storied buildings developed on leasehold plots, if purchasers have valid registered sale deeds or registered GPAs and agreement to sell after recovery of proportionate share of dues payable by lessee.

Mr Sibal said these decisions would rationalise the process of conversion from leasehold to freehold and benefit large a number of people intending to convert their residential, commercial and industrial properties to freehold.

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