Page 2 - Himachal Pradesh Government

Monsoon havoc in Himachal claims 366 lives, causes damage of over ₹4,080 cr

The report recorded 4,784 houses fully or partially damaged, along with losses to shops, cowsheds, agricultural and horticultural crops, and educational and health infrastructure

Himachal govt announces revised pay scales for nearly 14,000 employees

About 14,000 Himachal government employees serving in 89 categories will be affected by the HP Civil Services (Revised Pay) Second Amendment Rules 2025, notified by the government on Saturday. The amendment provides for omitting section 7A of the rules inserted on January 3, 2022, affecting about 14,000 employees, who would suffer a loss of between Rs 5,000 and 15,000 per month after re-fixation of the revised pay scale, with effect from January 1, 2016, Federation of Secretarial Employees Union Sanjeev Sharma said on Sunday. "We discussed the issue in detail with other employees' outfits and decided to meet the chief minister, chief secretary and Principal Secretary (Finance) on Monday and plead for withdrawing the notification regarding the amended Rules," he added. He said that the decision would impact the employees in the lower and middle sections. "Employees adjust their expenses, including school fees of children, loan instalments and other regular expenses as per the salary

Himachal directs companies to spend CSR funds within state: Minister

Himachal Pradesh government will ensure multinational companies set up in the state do not spend their CSR funds outside, Industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said in the Assembly on Friday. Raising the issue during the question hour, Sanjay Awasthi (Congress) named two large companies that are located in his Arki constituency and said the people there have been affected because of their projects, but funds under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) are not being used by them for the welfare of the locals. Responding to the remarks, Industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan admitted that multinational companies were spending CSR funds in other states and not in Himachal. He assured that the government will enquire about the complaints regarding violations of environmental safeguards. Congress MLA from Doon Ram Kumar stressed that CSR funds should be used at the places where such companies are located and BJP MLA from Bilaspur Trilok Jamwal also complained that the company i

Himachal rain damage: Death toll rises to 310, losses cross ₹2,450 crore

Road accidents, which surged amid slippery roads, poor visibility, and landslide debris, claimed 22 lives each in Chamba and Mandi, 19 in Kangra, 16 in Solan, and 15 in Shimla

Himachal monsoon havoc: Death toll rises to 306, losses cross ₹2,394 crore

The SDMA further informed that 199 disaster incidents occurred across the state, with the highest number reported in the Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts

HP electricity board records ₹315 cr profit in FY25 after years of losses

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) turned profitable in financial year 2024-25, earning a profit of Rs 315 crore, an official statement said. Until March 31, 2024, HPSEBL had accumulated losses amounting to Rs 3,742 crore. "After facing losses for many years, this is the highest profit ever recorded by the board. This milestone is not just a number, but a reflection of the commitment of the present state government to its vision of a 'Nai Soch, Naya Himachal'," a government spokesperson said in the statement. The present Himachal government, through its reforms, transparent administrative policies and financial discipline helped the board recover from losses and turn profitable, he said. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the success was the result of a clear policy, honest governance and a welfare-oriented approach. As per the statement, for 2024-25, an amount of Rs 368.89 crore was approved for gratuity, medical reimbursement, revised pension .

Himachal may 'vanish in thin air' amid ecological imbalance, warns SC

The Supreme Court has flagged the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and cautioned that the entire state may "vanish in thin air" if the situation does not change. Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state. "We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. "If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen," it said. The top court made the observations on July 28 while dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which declined to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as "gr

Himachal to earn ₹250 cr extra from 18% royalty on Karcham-Wangtu project

A spokesperson for the state government stated that with this decision, the government would receive an annual additional income of approximately Rs 150 crore

SC rules in favour of Himachal in power dispute with JSW Hydro Energy

Supreme Court upholds Himachal Pradesh's claim to 18% free power from JSW Hydro Energy, rejecting plea to align supply with CERC's 13% cap under 2019 regulations

Funds won't be a constraint for relief, rehabilitation efforts: Himachal CM

He said that the government has opened almost all the major roads of these areas and the work of opening the link roads of the disaster affected area were going on war footing

Himachal Pradesh: Cloudbursts, landslides claim 91 lives since June 20

15 people died in cloudburst incidents, 36 were killed in road accidents during the same period, with Solan (6 deaths), Kullu (7 deaths), and Chamba (6 deaths) reporting the highest numbers

Himachal CM chairs disaster management meet; focus on training, SDRF

The review focused on intensifying disaster preparedness given the increasingly destructive monsoon patterns and repeated cloudburst incidents in the state

Himachal death toll rises to 80; 52 rain-related, 28 due to road accidents

Rain-related deaths included 14 due to cloudbursts, 8 in flash floods, 1 from landslides, and others from electrocution, drowning, and falls caused by weather events

Himachal rainfall: About 72 people lost their lives, says deputy CM

The state government has geared up a lot of machinery, and we are restoring roads, water supply and electricity on a large scale, said HP Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri

Himachal govt to set up the emergency response centre in all panchayats

The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday gave its consent for setting up Panchayat Emergency Response Centre in all panchayats of the state, according to an official statement. In a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the cabinet gave its consent for Panchayat Emergency Response Centre in each of the 3,645 panchayats of the state to ensure effective response in the event of natural disasters to save human lives and properties. To encourage self-employment and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, it also approved the provision of interest subsidies for the establishment of solar power projects, the statement issued here said. Under this initiative, a five per cent interest subsidy will be provided for solar projects ranging from 100 KW to 1 MW in tribal areas, while a 4 per cent subsidy will be extended for projects with capacities between 250 KW and 2 MW in non-tribal regions. The cabinet also approved the signing of a

Three people missing as cloudbursts create havoc in Himachal's Kullu

Three people were washed away as cloudbursts led to flash floods in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Wednesday, damaging several houses, a school building, connecting roads and small bridges, officials said. Three cloudbursts incidents were reported from Jeeva Nallah and Rehla Bihal in Sainj and Shilagarh in Gadsa area of Kullu district. Three people in Rehla Bihal trying to take away their valuables from their homes were washed away in the deluge and are missing, the officials said. There were also flash floods in Manali and Banjar in the district. Teams are at the spot and search operations are underway, said Kullu Additional District Commissioner (ADC) Ashwani Kumar. There were also reports of a flash flood in the Brahma Ganga drain in Manikaran valley. Water levels have reached several houses and could cause damage if they don't recede soon. Videos of heavy floods at several places in Kullu show the extent of the damage. In one, a vehicle can be seen floating in muddy ...

Return used packs, get paid: Himachal's new policy to tackle mountain trash

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has launched 'Deposit Refund Scheme 2025', offering cash refunds for returned non-biodegradable packaging to tackle waste

JP Nadda rules out return to Himachal politics amid BJP leadership shift

With the party expected to soon elect his successor, BJP chief J P Nadda on Sunday ruled out a return to Himchal Pradesh politics. "I am in a responsible position and there is no possibility of coming back to the state," Nadda, who was elected BJP's national president in February 2020 and has been on an extension since his three-year term ended, said at a press conference here. The BJP is in the process of picking the chiefs of several state units in the coming days to pave the way for the election of its national president, sources said earlier this week. Once the appointment is made in some of the states, the process for electing Nadda's replacement will begin soon, a party leader had said. The state BJP president would be elected soon, Nadda said while replying to a question on Sunday. He attacked the Himachal Government, alleging that it was the "most corrupt" among the Congress governments in the country. Nadda claimed that the Congress government in the state has given ...

Himachal Pradesh budget FY26 passed: Focus on rural economy, farmers, youth

Addressing government employees, the Chief Minister assured timely payment of Dearness Allowance (DA)

HPPCL director suspended after protests over chief engineer's death

A director (electrical) of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has been suspended after the relatives of a deceased chief engineer of the corporation sat on a dharna demanding the suspension of senior officers and a CBI inquiry into his death, officials said on Thursday. The body of Vimal Negi, who was missing since March 10, was found in Bilapsur on Tuesday. Negi's wife has claimed that it was "not a suicide but murder", alleging that her husband was pressurised, denied holidays, and harassed even when he was unwell and his blood pressure was fluctuating. The protesters, who sat on dharna outside the HPPCL office in Shimla on Wednesday, refused to perform Negi's last rites till senior officers of the corporation were suspended. They also raised slogans against Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) director (electrical) Desh Raj and its managing director Harikesh Meena. The dharna was lifted late on Wednesday night only after the suspension of Desh Raj and ...