Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 27

Many important policy decisions, including a massive reshuffle in the police and civil administration, are likely to be taken at the Cabinet meeting before the shifting of the Durbar offices from Jammu to Srinagar for the next six months.The Cabinet, which will meet tomorrow, is also likely to approve transfer of land, already identified, to the Health Department for setting up of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Samba district.“In the Friday’s meeting, the Cabinet will formally take up the issue of transferring 293 kanals and 13 marlas, situated at Vijaypur, Samba, to the Health Department for setting up of AIIMS,” a source said, adding that the Cabinet is likely to give a nod to the proposal as the BJP is facing criticism for not speeding up the process of setting up the premier health institution.Contrary to the repeated announcements of ministers, the state government is yet to transfer the land for AIIMS. In August 2015, the state government had announced setting up of AIIMS at Vijaypur and had identified state land for the same but no steps were taken to transfer the land to the department concerned.Highly placed sources said that as per the agenda circulated for the Friday’s meeting, besides appointing the principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar, the government would take approval for transferring land for setting up of AIIMS. The Centre had announced the setting up of AIIMS in the Jammu region in August 2015.

On the agenda

• Enhancement of ration money from Rs1,000 to Rs 2,000 for employees engaged in emergency services
• Adoption of State Water Policy and Plan
• Promotion of senior IPS Officer Alok Kumar