Nod to surcharge waiver Scheme
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 03 2012:
A meeting of the State Cabinet today has recommended extension of Disturbed Area Status for one year with effect from December 1 in all parts of the State excluding the seven Assembly segments of Imphal Municipality.
The meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi at the Conference Hall, CM Bungalow here, also gave its nod to extension of Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed with the Kuki UG groups for another one year with retrospective effect from November 22 .
Furthermore, the Cabinet has recommended holding of the 3rd session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly from December 19 to 21.Among other agendas of today's meeting, the Cabinet agreed to the proposal of Electricity Department to introduce an incentive scheme for public consumer (domestic, commercial, industries, bulk consumers, etc.) in the current year for realization of outstanding dues and improving the overall revenue collection of the department.
The decision of the Government has been taken mainly after consideration of the fact that non-clearance of principal amount during the last few years amounting to Rs 231.66 crore and accumulated surcharge of Rs 80.10 crore as on August 31, 2012, has become so high and recovery of the arrears will not be feasible in the light of existing infrastructure and logistics in the department.
In order to improve the overall collection of revenue, the state Cabinet has given approval to the incentive scheme for which the main features are, the scheme will be for clearing the arrears dues of the defaulting consumers by liquidating their arrears on a one time basis for the outstanding dues as on August 31, 2012.The scheme will be applicable to the public consumers (domestic, commercial, industries, bulk consumers, etc.) only (including the disconnected consumers) and not to the state/Central Government offices/semi-Government establishments, banks, military/ paramilitary, Public Sector undertaking/Autonomous District Councils, etc.
The window period for implementation of the scheme will be two months�January 1 to February 28 of 2013 .
Though the reference for availing the scheme shall be based on the outstanding arrears as on August 31, 2012, the consumers intending to avail the scheme shall have to make one time clearance/liquidation of full principal amount as on the last billing cycle to get 75 percent incentive (waiver) on the total accumulated surcharge before implementation of the scheme.
On the approval of the state Cabinet earlier, Power Department, Manipur invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from the illegible CPSUs/PSUs/private developers for implementation of six hydro-electric projects on August 24, 2012 .
The projects are Irang (60 MW), Tuivai (51 MW), Maklang-Tuyungbi (45 MW), Nungleiband (105 MW), Pabram (190 MW) and Khongnem Chakha (67 MW) .
Altogether 14 applicants submitted their EoIs including two CPSUs namely, NHPC and NEEPCO.
Remaining twelve are private companies.
An evaluation committee constituted by the Government evaluated the EoIs submitted by the 14 developers and name of 10 developers have been recommended based on the technical and financial illegible criteria said in the EoI notice.
On the recommendation of the Power Department, the 10 shortlisted companies have been approved by the state Cabinet today.
Furthermore, today's Cabinet meeting discussed the issue related to the ongoing cease work strike of work-charge employees in various Engineering Departments.
Accordingly, it was decided to implement a same pay system for all employees.
Along constituting the 3rd State Finance Commission, today's Cabinet meeting has also recommended appointment of retired IAS Officer RC Misra as the Chairman of the two-member Commission, which is expected to submit its report to the Government in three months' time.
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