New Delhi: With a view to provide better and quality education to the students through digital medium, the Bihar cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod for opening a “digital library kendra” in every assembly constituency of the state.
There are a total of 243 assembly constituencies in the state. The “digital library kendra” in every assembly constituency will be set up under Mukhya Mantri Digital Library Yojana at an estimated cost of Rs 94.50 crore, Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary S Siddharth told reporters here in a post cabinet briefing.The digital library will be set up in panchayat building, Block office, municipal council building, Nagar panchayat building, community halls, school and college premises having additional space for the purpose and other places, he said adding that each library will have 10 computer terminal equipped with electricity and high speed internet connectivity.
It will require minimum of 300 sq ft area for installing and operating 10 computers. Students preparing for various competitive exams like JEE/NEET/CLAT will be able to prepare through online course material besides obtaining information relating to jobs from district employment office and job portals.
2400 MW thermal power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur; Not Solar plant
In another important decision, the cabinet approved energy department’s proposal for setting up 2400 MW (800 MWX3) thermal power plant in place of solar power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur, Siddharth said.
The plant would be set up through a competitive tariff based bidding process, he said adding that the company making lowest bid for providing cheapest per unit tariff (Rs 6.08 per unit) will be awarded the contract.
Earlier, Bihar State Power Generation Company Pvt Ltd (BSPGCL) was given the land for setting up a solar power plant at Pirpainti at symbolic rate of Rs 1 for a period of 33 years or the agreement period whichever is lower.
Inter-state bus service will be run on PPP mode
The cabinet also gave its nod to run inter-state bus service on a PPP mode in order to deal with the rush of passengers between Durga puja and Chhatth and during Holi, Siddharth said. Around 6,000 people from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Hariyana and Rajasthan come to Bihar during the festivals on a daily basis, a cabinet press note said. As per the scheme, Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, Patna will have agreement with private bus operators for starting service for a period of five years, it said adding that bus operators will be given Rs 150 per seat during peak side and Rs 300 per seat off peak side.
A total of 35.64 crore will be spent during a period of five years. IDA to acquire land in different dists for development of industrial area/corridor. The cabinet gave its approval for expansion of industrial area to promote investment and creation of employment opportunities in different districts.
As part of the exercise, Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA), Patna will acquire 441.79 acres of land in Aurangabad district at a cost of Rs 284.28 crore. Similarly, IDA will acquire 252.30 acres of land in Katihar district at a cost of Rs 39.0 crore. It will acquire 524.95 acres of land at cost of Rs 264.65 crore in Nalanda district.
A total of 700 acres of land will be acquired by IDA in Muzaffarpur at a cost of Rs 297.18 crore while 498.06 acres of land will be aacquired at a cost of Rs 151.74 crore in Supaul district. A total of 96.89 acres of land will be transferred to industries department for construction of new industrial corridor in Bhagalpur district. Yet another piece of land of 32.66 acres will be transferred to Bihar Industrial Area Development Agency (BIADA) for development of an industrial area in Gopalganj district.
Rs 154.30 crore sanctioned for webcasting from all 90,712 polling stations. The cabinet sanctioned Rs 154.30 crore for installing two cameras each on 90,712 polling stations in Bihar for successful conduct of assembly elections due in October-November this year.
The allocation of fund would help the Election Commission in installing camera for carrying out cent per cent webcasting, keeping a vigil on all check posts and polling centres and monitoring at different administrative level.
167 TEACHING & NON-TEACHING POSTS IN MUNGER UNIVERSITY
The cabinet approved education department’s proposal for creation of 167 teaching and non-teaching posts in 20 different Post-Graduation departments of Munger University, Munger. The decision would help in carrying out studies at PG level in a much better way. The cabinet sanctioned Rs 65.80 crore for construction of a 720 bed Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Residential School at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district under state scheme.