Hold your breath, boozers! Govt okays 1k breathalysers

Patna: In its attempt to effectively enforce complete prohibition, the state cabinet on Tuesday sanctioned a fund of Rs 40 crore from the government's contingency fund for the purchase of 1,000 breathalyzers, 1,000 CCTV cameras, 2,000 movable trolleys and installation of 600 check posts, 700 barriers and 200 dropgates across the state.

Talking to reporters soon after the cabinet meeting, principal secretary, cabinet secretariat department, Brajesh Mehrotra said these equipment and instruments would be distributed throughout the state for regular inspection of boozers. The amount would be given to the Bihar State Beverage Corporation for the purchase of various equipment.

In total, 11 decisions were taken at Tuesday's cabinet meeting chaired by CM Nitish Kumar.

The cabinet sanctioned Rs 112.85 crore for the construction of buildings for skill development training centres in all the 534 blocks of the state. "These centres would be set up in each block to impart training to the youth as part of the CM's seven resolves," Mehrotra said.

The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 234.52 crore for allotment of 125 acres of land at Sikanderpur village in Patna district for setting up a Mega Industrial Park and development of a new campus for NIT, Patna.

It also approved hike in dearness allowance of those whose salary/pension/family pension have not been revised since 2006, Mehrotra said, adding that they would now be paid 245% of DA instead of existing 234% from January 1, 2016.