Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved 17 proposals on August 25 covering cooperative development, employee welfare, healthcare procurement, urban infrastructure, energy supply, land records and support for former Agniveers.
Among the key decisions were the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Policy, 2026, a phased framework for extending equal-pay benefits to eligible Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL) personnel, creation of a dedicated cell for retired Agniveers and approval for procurement of 1,320 MW of coal-based power from Adani Power.
Uttarakhand State Cooperative Policy, 2026
The Cabinet approved the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Policy, 2026, aligned with the National Cooperative Policy.
The policy focuses on strengthening the cooperative sector through seven broad areas, including:
- Strengthening the foundation and functioning of cooperative institutions
- Expanding cooperatives into emerging sectors
- Promoting inclusion and wider participation
- Increasing youth engagement with cooperatives
- Improving economic viability and diversification
- Making cooperative institutions more future-ready
- Expanding their reach and role in the rural economy
The policy also envisages developing Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) as multipurpose and financially sustainable rural economic centres rather than limiting them to credit-related activities.
Phased Equal-Pay Benefits for UPNL Workers
The Cabinet approved a phased framework for extending equal pay for equal work benefits to eligible UPNL personnel.
The three phases will consider employees based on their dates of appointment:
- Employees appointed before January 1, 2016
- Employees appointed up to November 11, 2018
- Employees appointed up to October 15, 2024
The Cabinet also approved removal of the service-discontinuation break for employees currently working under the arrangement while the benefits are extended.
1,320 MW Coal-Based Power Procurement Approved
The Cabinet authorised Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) to enter into a 25-year power supply agreement with Adani Power Limited for coal-based electricity.
The approved arrangement involves:
- 1,320 MW of generation capacity
- Contracted capacity of 1,234 MW
- Composite tariff of ₹5.746 per unit
- A proposed 25-year supply period
- Statutory and regulatory approvals before implementation
Adani Power is to establish the coal-based power project in Chhattisgarh, using coal from a block allocated to Uttarakhand in the state.
Medical Supplies Corporation Approved
The Cabinet approved the establishment of the Uttarakhand Medical Supplies Corporation for centralised and timely procurement of medicines, surgical materials, chemicals, equipment and implants.
The state also approved leasing one acre of land in Haridwar to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for setting up a branch.
Dedicated Cell for Retired Agniveers
A six-post dedicated cell will be created to assist retired Agniveers with rehabilitation and access to state government schemes.
The approved staffing structure includes:
- One Deputy Director
- Two Assistant Directors
- Two Junior Assistants
- One Data Entry Operator
The decision has been described as a dedicated institutional mechanism for supporting former Agniveers in the state.
116 Houses Allocated to Rispana River Slum Residents
The Cabinet approved the allocation of 116 completed houses at Kathbangla to selected families living in the slum settlement along the Rispana River.
It also removed the requirement for the selected beneficiaries to pay 10% of the total house cost.
Urban Infrastructure and Land Records
The Cabinet approved drinking-water and sewerage projects for urban local bodies and restructuring measures for the Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Agency.
It also approved the Uttarakhand Population Survey and Record Operation Regulation, 2026, providing for modern methods to survey land in populated areas recorded in revenue records.
Other Cabinet Decisions
Other approvals included:
- Formation of rules for the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Search Committee, 2026
- Amendments relating to prison service rules
- Adjustment of certain third- and fourth-grade employees of the Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation in other departments
- Approval related to the state motor vehicle taxation framework
- Continuation of the green cess exemption for CNG vehicles while withdrawing the concession for hybrid vehicles
- Approval for externally funded drinking-water and sewerage projects in urban bodies
The Cabinet decisions span the cooperative sector, employee welfare, energy, healthcare, urban development, land administration and rehabilitation measures, forming part of the Uttarakhand government’s latest policy and administrative actions.
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