UP govt approves minimum support price for paddy

The Uttar Pradesh government today approved a number of proposals, including the minimum support price for paddy and providing land for a dairy processing plant in the state.
"While approving the paddy purchase policy, the cabinet fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of different categories," a government spokesman said here.
While price of common category has been fixed at Rs 1,310 per quintal, MSP for grade-A paddy would be Rs 1,345 per quintal.
The cabinet has fixed a target to purchase 25 lakh MT of paddy between October 1 to February 28 for which 3,000 centres would be set up across the state.

Along with government agencies, paddy would be procured through commission agents as well, he said.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to provide housing facilities to economically weaker and lower income groups.

As per the revised norms, annual income of this group should be more than Rs one lakh, but not exceeding Rs two lakh, the spokesman said.
It decided to allot a 20 acre plot to Banaskantha Cooperative Dairy Producers Federation (Amul) to set up a state-of-the-art dairy processing plant with a capacity of five lakh litre per day at Chak Gajaria farm.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the rate at which the plot would be allotted was approved by the cabinet, the spokesman said, adding the cabinet issued a directive to implement the scheduled caste sub-plan and tribal sub-plan.

It was also decided to forward the detailed project report (DPR) of Noida and Greater Noida Metro Rail projects to the Union Urban Development Ministry.
As per the DPR prepared by DMRC, the estimated cost of the Noida and Greater Noida Metro rail network would be around Rs 5,064 crore and a special purpose vehicle would be set up for its construction, operation and maintenance, he said.
While 20 per cent funds would be provided by the Centre, the state would make an equivalent contribution and remaining 60 per cent would be arranged from financial institutions as loan, the spokesman said.

The cabinet decided to set up 10 eco-sensitive zones in a bid to regulate commercial activities in these areas and approved a proposal to transfer 50 acres of land belonging to the tourism department to the higher education department for setting up of Siddharth University at Siddharth Nagar.
The cabinet decided to cancel the letter of intent issued in favour to a private company for issuing registration of vehicles on smart card and gave its nod to execute transmission system for the Lalitpur power project by UP Power Transmission Corporation Limited on public-private-partnership basis through tariff-based competitive bidding and approved a proposal to amend the guiding principles of the Vidhan Mandal area local development fund.

It cancelled two orders of the Public Works Department regarding demolition of buildings owned by the government and decided to transfer 1.6015 hectares land of the PWD to the Railway Ministry for construction of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor project.
The cabinet also gave its in-principle approval to the amended cooperation agreement to be signed between the Union Tourism Ministry, UP and Bihar for developing the Buddha circuit tourism project and authorised the Chief Minister to take further decisions on it.