Del Cab approves Centre's recommendation for health service cadre

New Delhi, July 30 (UNI) The Delhi Cabinet today accepted the proposal by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for constitution of a separate Health Services cadre for Delhi.

At a meeting, presided over by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the state Cabinet also gave its approval to a special VRS for employees of IPGCL whose four coal-based units at I P Thermal Power Station and I P Station are to be decommissioned after commissioning of 750 MW Gas based power plant at Bamnauli and 500 MW units at Badarpur power station.

The Cabinet was also apprised of the latest situation in respect of implementation of HCBS route from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ms Dikshit said the decommissioning of four coal-based units, presently in operation at the I P Thermal Power Station, and closing down of the I P Station, would affect 2100 employees working in these plants. The units are to be decommissioned after commissioning of 500 MW units at Badarpur Power Station.

The loss in installed capacity would also be compensated by the capacity addition of around 750 MW Gas based power plant at Bamnauli.

It is expected that about 700 employees would be able to avail the benefits of the VRS. The scheme would remain open for three months.

Necessary funding arrangement of approximately Rs.116.75 crore initially would be made available for the VRS. The funding would be subsequently increased if the scheme elicits a larger response.

The Cabinet had earlier taken a decision on May 7 to decommission the coal based units at I P Thermal Power Station. Ms Dikshit said the two units at I P Thermal Power Station have outlived their lives as they were in operation for about 40 years and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had permitted continuation of the existing coal-based I P Power Station till 31st December 2010.

Even the consultant appointed by the Delhi government's Department of Power has concluded that the plant has become unviable for further operation in its present condition and any investment for improvement of generation level of the plant will not be techno-economically feasible. She said that in view of decommissioning of the existing coal-based units, her Government would initiate action for capacity addition by 750 MW Gas Based Power Plant at Bamnauli.

Ms Dikshit said her Government had in principle accepted the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's recommendations on the issue of constitution of a separate Health Services under Delhi Government for effectively managing the health delivery system in Delhi.

MORE UNI