Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has decided to celebrate the formation day of the State on June 2, the appointed day on which the erstwhile AP was bifurcated instead of November 1 as was followed in the unified State.
Briefing reporters after Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Information and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said that all government programmes would be conducted on June 2 to mark State Formation Day. He parried a question on why June 2 was chosen as the people in the 13 districts had opposed bifurcation saying that was the appointed day and hence it was decided by the Cabinet.
He said the Cabinet approved ‘Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana’ to benefit 3.3 lakh drivers of unorganised sector by providing insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh to each of them. Government would be paying a premium of Rs.21.5 crore. The scheme would not be applicable for RTC and government drivers.
Earlier, the Cabinet offered condolences at the death of 61 people in Hudhud cyclone and observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for them. The Cabinet appreciated Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for responding quickly and visiting Visakhapatnam in the aftermath of the cyclone and the grant of Rs.1,000 crore by Mr. Modi. The Ministers also decided to donate a month’s salary towards cyclone relief.
It was also decided to observe Vana Mahotsavam on a huge scale with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participating in the event at Visakhapatnam on November 10. Thousands of saplings would be planted on that day since thousands were uprooted by Cyclone Hudhud, the Minister added.
The free supply of essential commodities for cyclone victims would be stopped from Friday evening in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, but will continue in Agency areas until November 5.
He said the Cabinet condemned incidents of preaching of other religions near temples, mosques and churches and added that all steps would be taken to preserve the sanctity of the religious places.
Regarding transfer of officials, he said there would not be large scale transfer of officials but only need-based ones. In a bid to prevent evasion of VAT payment, it was decided to amend the relevant act to ensure electronic generated declaration in addition to manual declaration.
The Cabinet approved alienation of 9. 6 acres to a bulk drug manufacturing company, Covalent at Maruwada village in Srikakulam district at a market value of Rs.10 lakh per acre and over 90 acres to Enercon wind farm in Anantapur district at Rs.1.5 lakh per acre. The lands would be given on lease for 33 years by APIIC. Another 336 acres has been sold at a market value of Rs. 7 lakh per acre to Krishak Bharat Sahakara Limited and UPI Polymers in Venkatachalam mandal in Nellore district.
