In the run-up to the February 21 assembly elections in Uttarakhand, several major decisions have been deferred. | |
| The issue of permanent capital was one of the major decisions which the ND Tiwari government could not take during its five year tenure. The government had revived the Dixit Commission on the permanent capital issue soon after it came to power in March 2002. |
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| But despite several extensions, the Virendra Dixit Commission is yet to come out with its final report. This has dealt a blow to the establishment of new infrastructure which include setting up of the Greater Doon project and the expansion of Jollygrant airport here. |
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| With the elections approaching, the government, which had acquired a big chunk of land for the Greater Doon project, put off the decision indefinitely. Similarly, uncertainty continued to plague the expansion of Jollygrant airport due to the rehabilitation problem. |
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| The government's plan to set up a mall and expand roads of Dehra Dun was also put off due to the coming elections. The implementation of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act was also shelved. Early this year, a sub-committee to the state assembly approved a draft Bill on APMC and sent to the Cabinet for tabling it in the House. |
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| Since the assembly elections are scheduled for next month, the sources said there would be no session of the House. This means that only the new government would decide the fate of the APMC Act. |
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| Nevertheless, the government's reluctance in this regard has blocked top-notch companies like Reliance, ITC and Mother Dairy from entering the agriculture sector directly in the state. |
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| These companies are ready to invest Rs 400 crore in Uttarakhand through different proposals, an official of the agriculture department said. |
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| The Chardham Bill, meant to develop areas around the Badarinath tourist circuit also could not take shape due to stiff opposition from certain quarters. In the face of elections the government deferred its decision on the Chardham Bill. |
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