J&K Cabinet likely to meet on Jan 20

Srinagar, Jan 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is set to meet on January 20 to discuss several key administrative decisions.
According to a communique, the meeting will take place at 4:00 pm at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu. Among the major items on the agenda, the Cabinet will review a proposal to revise the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees, pensioners, and family pensioners, with the revised rates to take effect from July 1, 2024. The Cabinet will also discuss a contempt petition related to SWP No. 2649/2013, titled Mohammad Sidiq Lone & Others Vs Sh. B.K. Singh & Others. In addition, the Cabinet is expected to approve the implementation of a 3-tier faculty structure in the Government Dental College, Srinagar, and Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, in line with the staffing norms set by the Dental Council of India (DCI). The meeting will also address projects proposed by the Housing & Urban Development Department, including a ₹60.50 crore bio-remediation project for 11 lakh metric tons of legacy waste at the Achan dumpsite in Srinagar, as well as pollution abatement projects for the River Jhelum in Srinagar and the River Banganga in Katra, with estimated costs of ₹64.45 crore and ₹92.10 crore, respectively. Approval for the construction of a new hospital block for the emergency operation theatre at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar is also on the agenda. Further, the Cabinet will discuss the proposal to scrap oral tests for recruitment to posts in pay level-6, as recommended by the J&K Service Selection Board. Proposed amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and the Excise Policy for 2025 will also be reviewed. The Cabinet is likely to recommend the convening of an Assembly session to discuss the upcoming budget.