U'khand raises minimum compensation for farmers to Rs 1,500

Uttarakhand government has raised the minimum compensation amount for farmers affected by crop losses to Rs 1,500 from the current provision of Rs 1,000.
In a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Harish Rawat at Haridwar yesterday, the government gave green signal to Rs 200 crore to meet the extra monetary burden arising out of the new compensation norm, according to an official press release.
The farmers who have already been given the minimum compensation of Rs 1,000 will be given Rs 500 more, it added.
As per the government information, the government has distributed Rs 16 crore compensation money to the farmers after the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms caused damages to their standing crops.

In other major decisions while the Cabinet cleared Rs 98 crore for completing by January 15, 2016 works of "permanent nature" for the 'Ardha Kumbh Mela' next year, it also approved a plan to divert and treat the nullahs that flow into the river Ganga.
With this allocation, the funds approved by the state government for the 'Ardha Kumbh Mela' next year has reached upto Rs 250 crore.

The process of diversion and treatment of the nullahs would be done between Muni Ki Reti (Rishikesh) to Haridwar.
In a relief to the disaster-hit people, the Cabinet waived off the stamp fees for registration of land they purchase or receive as grant anywhere in the state.

The Cabinet also decided to reduce the VAT on copper and iron to 5 per cent from 13.5 per cent.