Page 12 - Himachal Pradesh Government

Himachal government plans to set up various solar projects through PPP mode

The Himachal Pradesh government plans to set up various solar projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will provide clean power to consumers at cheaper rates and help in reducing carbon footprints, an official statement said on Wednesday. Big private players and major Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the country have assured to invest in the state in this vital sector. According to the statement, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) is coming up with five solar power projects (SPPs), in Himachal Pradesh. Thaplan solar power project of 112.5 MW is being set up in district Una. In addition to this, 20 MW SPP Bhanjal and Kadh in Una district, 20 MW in Fatehpur in Kangra district, 30 MW SPP Kolar in Sirmaur district and 12.5 MW in Rajgir in district Kangra are in pre-construction stage. To envision the concept of green Himachal, the government has promised to extend all possible support to the executing agency for setting up these projects and take necessary

ADB approves USD 130 million loan for promoting horticulture in HP

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 130 million (over Rs 1,072 crore) loan to increase agricultural productivity and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers' income in Himachal Pradesh. More than half of Himachal Pradesh's land area is in the mountains and 90 per cent of the population lives in rural areas who are dependent on agriculture, said ADB Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist for South Asia Sunae Kim. "Improving subtropical horticulture in the state offers a lot of economic opportunities to farmer households. Supporting horticulture value chains will also boost the subsector's contribution to the country's development and food security," Kim said. The Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project will help increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at least 15,000 farm households in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una. The project will improve

First Budget of Congress govt will be people-centric, says HP CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday in Nadaun said that the first budget of his government will be "people-centric" and the change will be for all to see in a year. The government was maintaining financial discipline considering the overall fiscal position of the state and few stringent decisions will have to be taken to bring it back on track, he said. "Wait for one year, you will find change in the system," Sukhu said addressing people in his home constituency, which he reached five hours ahead of the schedule. The Chief Minister said the government was committed to work for the welfare of every last man in the state. He assured the people that there won't be a dearth of funds for the construction of Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College in Hamirpur and it will be equipped with the latest technology to become the model health institution from the state. The government will open a nursing college in the premises of the medical college, he added. Earlier i

Cases for violating Covid-19 protocol withdrawn: Himachal CM Sukhu

The cases for violating Covid-19 protocol have been withdrawn, said Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here on Thursday

CM Sukhu resolves to make HP corruption-free, put economy back on rails

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said his government will make Himachal Pradesh corruption-free state and put the economy back on rails. He also announced plans to start robotic surgery facilities at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital at Tanda and Hamirpur medical college to provide better health facilities at affordable rates for the people. Presiding over the 53rd Statehood Day function at Hamirpur, Sukhu said his government to root out graft and make the state corruption-free. Asserting that graft would not be allowed at any level and corrupt elements would be put behind bars, he said suspension of HP Subordinate staff selection commission was a step in this direction. Blaming the previous BJP government for putting the state under debt liability of Rs 75,000 crore and committed liabilities of over Rs 11,000 crore pertaining to arrears and DA of employees and pensioners, Sukhu said his government was determined to bring the economy back on rails and

Shimla municipal wards' delimitation was in public interest: Ex-minister

Bhardwaj said the government has promulgated an ordinance to overturn the previous decision to enhance municipal wards from 34 to 41

Himachal seeks Rs 350 cr from centre for Phina Singh irrigation project

HP Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday sought an assistance of Rs 350 crore from the Centre for the completion of the Phina Singh medium irrigation project that started in 2011.

Sukhu meets Prez Murmu, V-P Dhankhar to discuss pension schemes in Delhi

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday called on the President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

Himachal Pradesh targets to be first 'green energy state' by 2025: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government intends to make the state as the first Green Energy State by the end of 2025 by harnessing hydro, hydrogen and solar energy and switching to green products, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. Presiding over a meeting of senior officers of the energy department and HPSEBL, he directed all the concerned departments including HPSEBL, HIMURJA, Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and the Department of Energy to initiate action in this direction and make policy changes, wherever required. He said that refurbishing the present system is essential and the departments should focus on harnessing green energy in the best interest of the State. To ease the norms, the Chief Minister directed the officers to make necessary amendments to the existing power policy and open all the solar projects up to 5 MW capacity for allotment. The state government would also invest in solar plants and will install 500 MW solar projects during the

Himachal CM orders detailed report of landslides, sinking zones in state

The chief minister also issued instructions to identify the major causes of road accidents in the state

Himachal CM Sukhu urges Centre to enhance disaster fund for state

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Union government to enhance the disaster fund for Himachal Pradesh as the State is prone to various types of natural disasters due to difficult topographical and climatic conditions. He was speaking at the inauguration function after setting up of Doppler Weather Radars at Jot in Chamba district and Murari Devi in Mandi district by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh through virtual mode on Sunday. A Doppler Weather Radar was installed at Kufri near Shimla on January 15, 2021 and with the commissioning of these additional two radars, about 70 per cent area of the State will be covered for weather forecast, a statement released here said. Stating that about 30 per cent area of the tribal Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts will not be covered under these Radars, he urged the Union Minister of State to provide additional Radar for these districts. He said that cloud bursts have

7 ministers inducted into Himachal Pradesh Cabinet; total strength at 9 now

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet headed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was expanded on Sunday with the induction of seven ministers, taking the total strength to nine. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to the newly inducted ministers at a ceremony at the Raj Bhawan. The newly inducted ministers include eldest MLA Dhani Ram Shandil from Solan, Chander Kumar from Jawali in Kangra district, Harshwardhan Chauhan from Shillai in Sirmaur district and Jagat Singh Negi from tribal Kinnaur district. Rohit Thakur, Anirudh Singh and Vikramaditya Singh from Jubbal-Kotkhai, Kasumpti and Shimla (Rural) in Shimla district respectively were also among those inducted. Besides the post of deputy speaker, three berths are still vacant as maximum number of ministers, including the chief minister, cannot exceed 12. Chief Minister Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri were sworn in on December 11.

New members of Himachal Pradesh cabinet led by Sukhu to swear in today

The swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet will take place today

Himachal Pradesh Cabinet to be expanded on January 8: Raj Bhavan

The much-awaited expansion of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet will take place on Sunday, according to Raj Bhavan sources. The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers would take place at the Raj Bhavan here on January 8 at 10 am, the sources said on Saturday. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu earlier in the day said he has handed over the list of probables for induction in his ministry to the Congress high command for approval. Cabinet expansion is possible on Sunday or later, he had told reporters here after returning from Delhi where he held deliberations with top party leaders on the issue. There has been much speculation over the names of new ministers since Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri took oath nearly a month ago following the Congress' win in the assembly election. The list has been handed over to the high command and expansion would be done only after it is cleared by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sukhu said. There are 10 vacancies in

Himachal Pradesh govt seeks 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine

The government said it is fully geared up to tackle any possible threat due to COVID virus and the basic health infrastructure is being strengthened in all health institutions

Heliports in all districts will boost tourism, says Himachal CM Sukhu

Heliports in all districts will boost tourism in the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said upon his arrival here on Tuesday. Sukhu, who will attend an Abhar rally near Tapovan here, said efforts would be made to ensure that all district headquarters had a heliport within a year. He said clearances had been given for social impact assessments to review the effects of infrastructure projects and other development interventions with regards to the expansion of Kangra-Gaggal Airport and the government will look into the prospect of increasing tourist stay in Dharamsala, he added. Speaking on de-notifying the projects announced by the previous BJP government after April 1, 2022, Sukhu said the new institutions had been opened without budget allocation to woo voters with eye on Assembly polls. The projects will be reviewed and the institutions opened as per need, he added. The chief minister is in Dharamsala to attend the three-day session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabh

Himachal Pradesh government to come up with open policy to woo investors

The Himachal Pradesh government will soon come up with an open policy to woo private players to invest in the hydro sector, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. The chief minister also directed officials to ensure the time-bound completion of all power projects so that the state is not deprived of royalty from these projects. He saw a presentation made by Sai Eternal Foundation, New Shimla. Sukhu also released a song composed by Ravinder Thakur and has been directed by the Congress candidate of the assembly elections 2017 from the Jogindernagar assembly segment, Jeevan Thakur. The song has been sung by Sandeep Sharma and the music was given by Anil Thakur.

Himachal: Congress should take action in paper leak case, says BJP

The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh should take action against the accused in the JOA (IT) paper leak case rather than blaming the previous BJP regime, the president of the saffron party's state unit, Suresh Kashyap, said on Tuesday. In a statement issued here, Kashyap alleged that the new government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has failed on all fronts and the latter had to address a press conference to hide his failures. He said the chief minister should remember that the JOA (IT) paper leak has happened during his tenure and that he is answerable to the public. The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the constable recruitment examination paper leak case and subsequently, handed over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Kashyap said while accusing the Congress of doing politics over the instant case. Sukhu addressed his first formal press conference on Tuesday after

Himachal govt suspends functioning of SSC over recruitment exam paper leak

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government suspended the functioning of the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC) on Monday, two days after an HPSSC employee was arrested along with five others over the leak of question paper for the junior office assistant (IT) recruitment exam. According to a notification issued by the state government here, the decision has been taken in view of various irregularities found in the working of the commission, especially the recruitment process for the JOA (IT) posts. "There has been a reported instance of leak of question paper for the post of Junior Office Assistant (Information Technology) (JOA-IT), for which examination was scheduled to be held on December 25 besides information regarding leak of question papers of posts of Junior Auditors and Computer Operators, for which examination is proposed to be held in near future," the order said. The acts of omission and commission in the HPSSC have not only eroded its credibility but also ...

BJP govt opened 590 institutions without budget, scrapped them: Himachal CM

BJP govt in Himachal, had opened over 590 institutions at the fag end of its tenure without allocating budget and adequate staff and all such institutions will be scrapped till reviewed, CM said