Just ahead of the announcement of poll dates for Lok Sabha elections, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has announced several sops for the farmers and beneficiary projects for the common man.
The UP government on Tuesday announced to provide free electricity connections on private tube wells, approved hydrogen policy, setting up of UP state capital region and extension of Lucknow Metro.
These decisions were taken in the state cabinet meeting here which was chaired by the Chief Minister.
The Cabinet approved the decision to provide free electricity connections on private tube wells. With this, 1.5 crore farmers of the state will get the benefit of free electricity connections. This scheme will be implemented from April 1, 2023 and gives 100 per cent discount on electricity bills of farmers which includes 14.73 rural and 5188 urban tube wells.
No bill will be payable from April 1, 2023, and interest free payment scheme will be introduced on earlier outstanding bills.
Apart from this, the state cabinet approved the hydrogen policy. With this decision, the plan of producing green hydrogen, running hydrogen buses and other vehicles in various cities of the state will be realised.
Green Hydrogen Policy has been made by Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) in the state. Now, preparations are on to implement it.
Green Hydrogen is considered a promising alternative for enabling this transition. After this policy is approved, this green alternative can be used by mixing it with piped natural gas for vehicles. The National Green Hydrogen Mission has been started by the Central Government, and now the states have to implement it.
Besides, the government approved two power stations of 800 MW each to be set up in Anpara in collaboration with NTPC. Energy Minister AK Sharma said with this decision, they were working to make the state self-reliant in the field of energy.
Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that one incubator centre each will be established in five agricultural universities.
Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi said that the developer has been finalised for the construction of International Film City. The cost of the first phase is Rs 1500 crore.
According to Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, approval has been given for the expansion of Metro in Lucknow. The extension will be of 11 km-new metro rail route from Charbagh to Basant Kunj.
Total cost of the Metro project will be Rs 5801 crore and it will be completed by June 30, 2027.
A proposal of Rs 439 crore has been approved for the Outer Ring Road in Lucknow. Khanna said an Ordinance has been approved for the development of the State Capital Region. This project includes Lucknow, Sitapur, Unnao, Barabanki, Hardoi and Rae Bareli districts for acceleration of development works.
The Finance Minister said the proposal for free allotment of land for the establishment of Nursing College in Pilibhit has been approved while a government VVIP guest house will be constructed in Civil Lines area of Prayagraj.
