Mah govt to construct two ports

Mumbai, May 30 (UNI) The Maharahtra government has decided to construct two ports at Vijaydurg and Reddy.

The decision to this effect was taken at the State Cabinet meeting here today.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed with Hindustan Infrastructure Project and Engineering Pvt Ltd for Vijaydurg port and with Earnest Shipping and Shipbuilders Pvt Ltd for Reddy port, a release here said.

The Vijaydurg port is being built at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore while Rs 995 crore will be pumped in for Reddy port.

The Vijaydurg port and the Reddy port will be able to handle 75 million tonnes and 32 million tonnes of cargo after completion of the ports.

The Cabinet has also decided to fix allowances and honorarium for the Presidents of municipal councils and the bill to this effect will be tabled in the next session of the legislature.

The Cabinet also increased the limit of the death-cum-retirement gratuity from the existing Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh which will come into effect from next month. Due to this, the State exchequer will incur a burden of Rs 16 crore.

Apart from this, the Cabinet approved amendments in the rules of cooperative institutions thereby revoking the ban on the director and relatives of the directors of the cooperative institution from entering into the business run by the institution. However, the permission of the general body of cooperative institute will be necessary.

The Cabinet also approved to double the property tax on buildings with illegal constructions.

UNI