Raje stays land allotment by previous government

In a marathon cabinet meeting on Thursday, BJP-led state government has stayed all land allotments done at concessional rates to charitable trusts and other organisations during the last six months of Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan.

The government announced framing of a new land allotment policy for trusts and all the stayed cases will reviewed under it.

“We have not cancelled any allotment done by Gehlot government. Rather, we have decided to come up with a new and transparent policy for allotting land to trusts and various organisations at concessional rates. All allotments by previous government will be reviewed under the new policy,” said Rajendra Rathore, health minister of the state.
Immediately after coming to power, BJP had formed a cabinet sub-committee to review the land allotments and other decision of the Gehlot government.

The sub-committee presented its report to cabinet on Thursday and was accepted in its original form, said sources.

Rathore informed that the cabinet has also decided to constitute the Fifth Finance Commission with effect from 2015.

The new commission will give its recommendations over financial grants given to panchayats and civic bodies by state government.

The proposal of formation of the new agriculture policy was also cleared.

Meanwhile, several decisions were taken to create more investment and industrial-friendly environment in the state.

Major amendments were also made in labour and factory laws, through which around 3000 small factories will be free from red-tapism.

The Contract Labour Act 1970 was amended, in which no license will be required by contractors for supplying minimum 50 labours in any factory.

The earlier limit was 20 labourers.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to convene the budget session of Rajasthan Assembly from July 11.

“The cabinet has decided to call off the budget session of state Assembly from July 11, and all businesses would be completed by July 28,” said Rajendra Rathore.

Rathore informed that entire state government including Chief Minister, all ministers, chief secretary, DGP and all department heads will camp in Bikaner division from June 19 to June 30.

The government officials will visit each and every panchayat in Bikaner, to hear the problem of people and establish direct connect with them. Similar exercise was conducted in Bharatpur division immediately after Raje took over as Chief Minister of Rajasthan.