Patna,(BiharTimes): The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday announced eight per cent increase in dearness allowance for its employees and pensioners.

The DA has been hiked from 72 per cent to 80 per cent and will be effective from January 1, 2013.
According to the Principal Secretary Cabinet Coordination Brajesh Mahrotra an additional sum of Rs 1190.80 crore would be required for this purpose.

The cabinet has also cleared the revised estimate of over Rs 16.87 crore for construction of 100-bed sadar hospital in Supaul which ultimately would be converted to 250-bed hospital. The principal secretary further said the cabinet also approved the amendment to the Bihar Crime Affected Welfare Trust Rule, 2013, by which a part of the remuneration given to prisoners for some work would be deducted to be given, later, to his family members for rehabilitation.

In order to provide potable water to 67 villages affected by arsenic in the underground water in Patori, Mohiuddin Nagar and Mohanpur block of Samastipur district, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 137.80 crore for laying pipeline for water supply.

The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 191.78 crore for similar project in Matihani and Barauni of Begusarai district.