J&K Cabinet gives nod to key proposals

Srinagar, Jan 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday approved a series of proposals during a meeting held on Monday in Jammu.
Sources privy to the meeting told Rising Kashmir that Cabinet gave nod to revise Dearness Allowance rates for government employees, pensioners, and family pensioners which will take effect retrospectively from July 1, 2024, bringing financial relief to thousands of beneficiaries across the Union Territory.
He said that the Cabinet also approved the introduction of a three-tier faculty structure for Government Dental College in Srinagar and Indira Gandhi Government Dental College in Jammu.
The Housing and Urban Development Department received administrative approval for several ambitious projects, he said adding that it include bio-mining and remediation of 11 lakh metric tons of legacy waste at the Achan landfill in Srinagar at an estimated cost of ₹60.50 crore.
The Cabinet also sanctioned projects for pollution abatement and conservation of water bodies, including the Jhelum River in Srinagar and Banganga River in Katra with the combined cost pegged at ₹156.56 crore, with funds being sourced from national conservation programs, he said.
He also said that the construction of a new emergency operation theatre block at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar also got Cabinet clearing.
He further said that oral tests or interviews for recruitment to posts in pay level-6 have also been discontinued. The move, as recommended by the J&K Services Selection Board, is expected to streamline recruitment processes and ensure greater transparency.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, to align local tax policies with national regulations, he said.
The Cabinet recommended convening the next session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in early March recommendation of which has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval, he added.