CCI fast-tracks NH, port projects
Resolving the major bottlenecks in the development of the road sector, the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) in its meeting on Thursday approved a proposal to delink the grant of environment clearance from forest clearance, which will clear the way for strengthening and widening of the National Highways.
The CCI in another decision asked the security agencies to give clearances to projects related to ports in 12 weeks time.
The CCI decision on Thursday removed the bottlenecks in strengthening and widening of NHs by clearing the obstacles pertaining to diversion of protected forest land. The CCI has also set up a high-level committee under Dr Krishnaswamy Kastu-riranga to resolve pending issues related to the road sector.
Among the bottlenecks, which have been resolved in Thursday’s meeting of the CCI, is special exemption or no-objection certificate under Forest Rights Act 2006 for strengthening and widening of national highway projects, specifically pertaining to diversion of protected forest land under the Forest Conservation Act 1980.
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Govt creates 20,751 i-t dept posts
New Delhi, May 23: The government on Thursday approved the restructuring of income-tax department, that includes creation of 20,751 additional posts in various cadres, saying it will help increase collections by `25,000 crores per annum.
“Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for creation of 20,751 additional posts in the income-tax department in various cadres that is 1,349 additional posts in the IRS cadre and 19,402 additional posts in the non-IRS cadres,” finance minister P. Chidambaram said briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting.
He said the recruitment for the additional posts will be done over a period of time and the decision will help the income-tax department collect higher revenue and provide better services to tax payers.
The move entails an additional expenditure of `449.71 crores per annum on creation of additional posts and upgradation of some existing posts, the minister said.
“This additional expenditure would be more than compensated by the increased revenue of more than `25,000 crores per annum proposed to be generated as a result of this exercise,” he added.
According to the information available, the restructuring of the income-tax department has recently been approved by a group of ministers. — PTI
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