Bhopal: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed implementation of directives issued by BJP national president Amit Shah at an informal meeting of the council of ministers on Tuesday. The chief minister told his colleagues that they should decide their schedules for touring the districts and meeting party workers and leaders.
Urban development minister Maya Singh said that on Monday she spent the whole day waiting for party workers but only four persons turned up. On this, the chief minister suggested that she can meet the party workers and leaders at her residence or at the Mantralaya in morning and evening hours. It was decided that the ministers would meet the party workers from 10 am to noon and from 3 pm to 5 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Chouhan said that if the ministers have any issues vis-à-vis the districts allotted to them, they can convey it to him in writing. He said that even after his announcement to this effect in the last cabinet meeting, only two ministers had requested for a change. He also said that the districts of some ministers may be changed as per the choice of the party organisation.
Chouhan said that the price deficit scheme was an ambitious initiative of the state government, which has been launched as a pilot project after taking due permission from the Centre. He said that the ministers should keep an eye on its implementation in the districts.
Concessions for captive power plants scrapped
The state government has decided to do away with provision for giving concessions in power cess to captive power plants. The decision was taken in view of the availability of sufficient power in the state. The government wants that the industrial units should take connections from power distribution companies instead of establishing their own captive power plants. Earlier, the Electricity Regularity Authority had granted concessions in power tariff to consumers who were using power produced by captive power plants but wanted to switch to power distribution companies.
The cabinet also decided to grant exemption to food processing units from Mandi cess under its industrial promotion policy. Decision on granting bar licence to Usha Kiran Palace Hotel was deferred. This hotel is believed to be owned by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.