UP Cabinet decisions: ₹20 cr loan to outsourced services corp, ₹25.78 cr for fire services
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, while informing about the cabinet decision, stated that the Uttar Pradesh Outsourced Services Corporation has been formed as a non-profit public limited company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. The corporation’s objective is not to earn profits, but to deliver public services in a more effective, transparent, and systematic manner. He stated that the corporation is currently in its initial stages of operation. Therefore, financial assistance was needed to strengthen its administrative structure, develop other systems, including the centage charges levied on outsourcing agencies, and to ensure smooth operation. In light of this, the state government has decided to provide an interest-free loan of ₹20 crore.
He stated that the corporation will not be able to repay the loan through its income in the initial years. Based on preliminary estimates, the corporation will not be liable to repay the loan for the first five years. The corporation will then repay this loan from its income over the next ten years at a rate of ₹2 crore per year.
Approval of a proposal of ₹25.78 crore to make fire and emergency services more effective
An important decision was taken in the cabinet meeting to further strengthen the fire and emergency services. The Yogi Cabinet granted administrative and financial approval of ₹25 crore 78 lakh 85 thousand for the construction and purchase of a total of 44 water tenders and 5 foam tenders for the department.
Under this decision, 5 water tenders (2500 liter capacity) will be constructed to meet the new demand. Additionally, 39 water tenders (2500 liter capacity) and 5 foam tenders (5000 + 500 liter capacity) will be constructed and purchased to replace unused ones. All these vehicles will include chassis, high-pressure pumps, fabrication, and necessary accessories.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna stated that the Fire and Emergency Service is a crucial emergency service, aimed at quickly and effectively controlling fires in rural, urban, and industrial areas. The Finance Minister stated that this decision was made in light of the need for modern fire tenders to extinguish fires in the state’s congested neighborhoods, crowded urban areas, towns, industrial units, petroleum and gas installations, chemical plants, airports, helipads, and paint and other flammable liquid warehouses. He explained that these small water tenders are being deployed in areas where fire engines cannot reach.
