Dehradun,, Oct. 4 -- The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday decided to repeal the 153-year-old British-era Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, and replace it with a new law tailored to the state's unique geographical conditions, officials said.
The decision to table the Uttarakhand Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2026, in the Assembly was made during the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the NHPC complex in Banbasa, Champawat district.
This was the first time a state Cabinet meeting was held in Champawat, the chief minister's Assembly constituency. In another decision, according to a statement, the Cabinet approved amendments to the policy and standards governing the establishment of private universities.
Under the revised framework, a minimum built-up area of 2,500 square metres in hilly regions and 20,000 square metres in plain areas will be required.
It was also decided to hammer out separate evaluation criteria to ensure quality in proposals for setting up private universities.
In view of the shortage of senior residents, junior residents, and demonstrators in government medical colleges, the state Cabinet approved a revision of their payable salaries and honorariums.
Dhami said Cabinet meetings would no longer be confined to Dehradun and would be held in different places to directly present local issues, development prospects, and regional priorities to the government.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.