Nitish Kumar cabinet approves Rs 400 crore for bonus on paddy

PATNA: The Nitish Kumar government today approved a sum of Rs 400 crore for payment of Rs 300 bonus per quintal in addition to the Minimum Support Price for paddy procurement in the state.

The approval was given in the meeting of the state Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The state government has announced payment of Rs 300 per quintal bonus on paddy for the Kharif season 2014-15. The state cabinet gave its approval to provide Rs 400 crore to the state food and civil supplies corporation, which has paid the bonus.

The cabinet also gave its nod to 24 agendas of different departments, an official statement quoting the Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination said.

In another significant decision, the Bihar cabinet cleared Rs 25.45 crore for installation of CCTV and other security gadgets in 58 prisons across the state, it said.

The installation work would be carried out by the Bihar State Electronic Development Corporation Ltd (BELTRON), the statement said.

The cabinet also cleared a three months extension to the judicial probe panel inquiring into the 2011 Araria police firing.