HP cabinet allots 95 small hydro-power projects to investors

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today decided to allot 95 small hydro-power projects, with capacity of up to 5 MW, to 95 investors, including 74 from the state.
The total capacity of the 95 projects is 197.695 MW, of which 74 projects with 126.695 MW were allotted to investors from the state and 21 projects of 76 MW to investors from outside Himachal Pradesh.
The Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh decided that in case capacity is enhanced over 5 MW applicable charges, including additional free power royalty, will be paid by the applicant afresh on the whole capacity.

The cabinet terminated the implementation agreement of the 13 MW Lower Uhl Hyro Electricity Project and decided to allot the project through international competitive bidding.
It approved felling, removal and lopping of dangerous trees in limits of municipal corporations in Shimla and Dharamshala as per recommendations of its sub-committee.
The Cabinet gave its nod to increase honorarium of primary assistant teachers (PAT) in the Elementary Education Department from Rs 8,900 to Rs 11,000 per month.

The decision is set to benefit 3,240 PATs who are in service against vacant posts of JBT for more than 10 years.
It approved the proposal to regularise services of Part Time Water Carriers and Carrier-cum-Peon working on daily wage basis in the Education Department for more than 14 years as on March 31 and September 30.

The Cabinet approved filling and creation of 288 posts in various departments including 100 posts of MBBS doctors and 113 functional posts in Urban Local bodies.
It gave its nod to amend the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Rules, 2005, pertaining to registration procedure and process of submission of returns by good carriers and agent of transport companies under VAT Rules, and levying five per cent uniform cess on e-commerce by inserting new forms.
It approved creation of the Endocrinology Department at IGMC and Dr Rajinder Prasad Medical College and Hospital, Tanda.
Creation of requisite posts for open Primary Health Centre in gram panchayat at Baghar in Shimla district, Chamboh in Hamirpur district was also approved.

It gave its approval to open new health sub centres at Kanjayan, Lehri Sarel, Baddu Sahani in Bilaspur district, Gram Panchayat Kas in Mandi district.
Staff and upgrade of Primary Health Centre Hatwar to Community Health Centre in district Bilaspur was approved by the Cabinet.
It approved transfer of government land in favour of Government of India for construction of Central Drug Standard Control Organization Zonal Office at Baddi in Solan district.
The cabinet also approved development plan for Barog Special Area and starting post-graduate courses in Geology at Government College Dharamshala.