Vijayawada: The state Cabinet met on Friday approved various Bills that are to be presented in the state Assembly, including one that provides 50 per cent reservation to SCS, STs, BCs and women in government contracts.

Another Bill on establishing a Judicial Commission that will oversee the tendering procedure of the government contract works also got the Cabinet’s approval.





The AP Investment Promotion and Monitoring Board Act (APIPMB) draft Bill was also approved by the Cabinet.

As per the draft judicial commission Bill, a sitting High Court judge or a retired judge will head the judicial commission. All the government contract works that exceed Rs 100 crore will come under the scanner of the commission. All works will come under scrutiny by the judge even before the tenders are called. The tender will be put in the public domain for public scrutiny. Later the judge will scrutinise the work details for eight days.

The APIPMB Bill has been brought in the place of APEDB Act. The APIPM will work on attracting investments, branding, monitoring, funds mobilisation, project permissions and environmental concerns. The CM will be the chairman of the Board and there will be seven other directors.

The Cabinet has also approved a new government scheme called “YSR Navodhayam.” The government has identified 86,000 MSME accounts which are in financial crisis and has approved to one-time restructure of the business with loan amounts, totalling to Rs 4,000 crore. Companies are being given nine months’ time to use this scheme.

Another scheme that gives free electricity of 200 units to SC households was also approved. 15,62,648 people will be benefited through this scheme. A Bill providing 75 per cent of total jobs to locals in the industries has also been approved. People who have lost their lands in land acquisition for industries will also get jobs in the industries.