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This is an archive article published on October 27, 2023
In Khattar’s poll year gift: Pension scheme for old trees, hike for ‘victims of Emergency’
Khattar was addressing the media on the occasion of completion of nine years of his government, during which he highlighted several achievements as well as people-oriented and public welfare programmes carried out in his tenure.
Haryana CM Manohar
Lal Khattar
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In Khattar’s poll year gift: Pension scheme for old trees, hike for ‘victims of Emergency’
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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced a 4 per cent increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for 3.5 lakh government employees, besides a hike in pension for ‘Matribhasha Satyagrahis’, who took part in the ‘Hindi Aandolan’ of 1957, and the “Emergency victims” from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.
He also announced honorariums for mayors and members of municipal corporations, zila parishad’s chairperson and members, regularization of 190 colonies spanning across 10 districts, and closure of six toll plazas on state highways.
Khattar was addressing the media on the occasion of completion of nine years of his government, during which he highlighted several achievements as well as people-oriented and public welfare programmes carried out in his tenure.
Assembly polls are due in Haryana by October 2024.
In 1957, a number of people of Hindi-speaking parts of erstwhile Punjab launched a crusade for the honour, promotion and implementation of their mother tongue and they are known as ‘Matribhasha Satyagrahis’.
Highlighting his government’s “proactive stance on environmentally-friendly initiatives”, Khattar also announced a scheme offering pension to trees aged 75 years or older located on the property of state’s residents.
Initially, a pension of Rs 2,750 per annum is being offered for “maintenance and care” of 3,810 trees under the Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme, Khattar said, adding the allowance will see annual increments, akin to old-age pension.
“Haryana is the first state to implement such a pioneering scheme, aimed at conserving and protecting aging trees,” Khattar said.
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Khattar asked the residents, who have trees aged 75 years or older in their homes’ courtyards, to apply for pension by visiting their respective district forest department offices. District-level conservation committees have already identified 3,810 trees that qualify for the pension.
Meanwhile, Khattar said the Union government has granted approval for the installation of an 800-megawatt thermal power plant in Yamunanagar. To a question about the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Khattar told the media that the Supreme Court had passed an order in favour of Haryana for constructing the SYL canal.
He stressed that the construction of the SYL canal and water-sharing are two separate issues and criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for taking a different stance on the matter.
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