Page 7 - Himachal Pradesh Government

Polling ends for lone RS seat from Himachal with last vote from MLA Babloo

Polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, which began at 9 am on Tuesday, ended with Congress MLA from Chintpurni Sudershan Babloo casting the last vote. The polling was brisk and all 68 members have voted. Independent MLA from Hamipur Ashish was the first to cast his vote. Congress MLA Babloo was brought to the Assembly in a helicopter as he was unwell. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after casting his vote said the MLAs have voted as per the ideology of the party. "We have 40 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha and unless MLAs are bought off, we will get all the votes," he said. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur had earlier said that it was the democratic right of the MLAs to vote and it was not necessary that the candidate be elected unopposed. "We have fielded the candidate gauging the situation and hope that all MLAs would exercise their conscious vote," he added. The BJP has fielded Harsh Mahajan against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Mahaja

No cross-voting will be done: BJP hopeful to win Himachal Pradesh RS polls

Voting for 56 Rajya Sabha seats from 15 states, which are falling vacant in April, will be held today

Himachal govt earned Rs 91 cr from milk cess on liquor: Industries minister

Himachal Pradesh government earned Rs 90.78 crore from milk cess of Rs 10 per bottle on liquor and the figure is likely to touch Rs 100 crore, Industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said on Monday. The state government earned Rs 90.78 crore from milk cess on liquor till January 31, 2024, Chauhan said during the Question Hour in Vidhan Sabha. Replying to a question of Randhir Sharma (BJP) and Kewal Singh Pathania (Congress), on behalf of the chief minister, the minister said that the money would be used for increasing the income of milk producers and strengthening the milk sector infrastructure. He said that the liquor vends in 2023-24 were allotted through Auction-cum-Tenders and the reserve price was kept at Rs 1,446 crore but the actual auction amount was Rs 1,815 crore which was 40 per cent more as compared to the previous year (2022-23). The income from excise from the new policy increased by Rs 515 crore and against a target of Rs 2,350.81 crore from Excise policy, revenue o

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announces hike in MSP for milk

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday presented the annual Budget of Rs 58,444 crore for 2024-25 with focus on the agriculture sector, and announced an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk. Presenting his second state Budget, Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio, hiked the MSP of cow milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk from Rs 38 to Rs 55 per litre. Himachal is the first state to give MSP on milk, he said. He said liabilities of all milk cooperative societies will be waived off and Rs 150 crore will be spent on strengthening infrastructure for milk procurement and its processing. The CM announced Rajiv Gandhi Prakriyat Kheti Yojna, under which 36,000 farmers -- 10 farmers from every panchayat -- will be trained in natural farming techniques. Sukhu further said universal cartons will be introduced for apple packaging and horticulture tourism will be encouraged. He reiterated the state government's resolve to make

Himachal to constitute committee to address grievances, demands of doctors

The Chief Minister said that the State Government was considering all their genuine demands sympathetically, but the financial condition of the State is precarious, a release said

HP govt plans tax concessions for milk producers, agri schemes in Budget

The Himachal Pradesh government will consider giving tax concessions to milk producers and launch innovative schemes to increase the farmers' income in the upcoming budget, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Sunday. The budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held from February 14 to 29. The state budget will be presented on February 17. Interacting with the milk producers of the state here, he said the government was encouraging agriculture as an industry to make the farmers self-reliant. "As agriculture and milk production plays a pivotal role in promoting the rural economy, the state government is coming up with innovative schemes to increase the income of farmers in the upcoming budget, results of which would be visible in next two years", he said in a statement issued here. Fundamental changes were being made in the policies and rules to ensure that money goes directly to the farmers, he noted. The government will also consider giving tax concessio

180 days maternity leave for female cooks, helpers in edu dept: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to grant 180 days maternity leave to about 17,889 female cook cum helpers working in the education department under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. Earlier, there was no such provision of maternity leave for the above category and necessary directions in this regard have been issued to the concerned department, he said in a statement issued here. Sukhu said this decision of the government, which is working for the welfare of the vulnerable sections of the society, will fulfil the long pending demands of mid day meal workers. The government is working with the aim of holistic development of the downtrodden with special focus on child care and women empowerment, he added.

HP budget to focus on improving financial condition of state: CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the Himachal Pradesh budget for fiscal year 2024-25 would be framed with a focus on prosperity and improving the financial condition of the state. The Budget session of Himachal Pradesh would be held from February 14 to 29 and the budget would be presented on February 17. The government was working with the aim of 'Vyavastha Parivartan' (change in system) and focusing on rapid improvement in the financial condition of the state, a sttement quoted Sukhu as sayin. The chief minister was speaking in the 'Chaupal' programme organised by a media house in New Delhi, according to a statement issued here. He said the Himachal Pradesh government was committed to the overall development of the state and its citizens. The Congress-led state government has implemented its poll guarantee of restoring the Old Pension Scheme for government employees, Sukhu added. The chief minister said the government aims to develop Himachal Pradesh as a tou

HP govt administrative reshuffle: 6 HPAS, 19 IAS officers transferred

As per the notification by the Himachal Pradesh Government under Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, two HPAS were also given additional charges in the public interest

Himachal govt transfers 42 HPAS officers ahead of Lok Sabha elections

In a major administrative reshuffle, the Himachal Pradesh government has transferred 42 Himachal Administrative Service (HPAS) officers

After floods, tourists have started turning towards Himachal once again: CM

CM Sukhu thanked all the tourists coming to the state

Himachal govt issues notification to grant ST status to Hatti community

The Himachal Pradesh government on Monday issued a notification granting Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to the Hatti community of Sirmaur district's Transgiri area. Members of the community, who reside in 154 panchayats of the area, had been demonstrating against the state government over not implementing the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2023, and notifying the community as ST. After a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told a press conference that the state government had sought a clarification from the Centre regarding scheduled castes status among the Hatti community in September last year after the law department raised some objections. "I was in continuous touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah," he said. "I had promised that a notification would be issued in this regard within 24 hours after the clarification is received and the promise stands fulfilled in 10 hours," Sukhu said, adding that he would go to Nahan on January 3

HP govt restricts departments from buying diesel-petrol vehicles from Jan 1

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed government departments not to buy diesel and petrol vehicles from January 1, 2024, according to a statement. This will promote e-vehicles and help the state achieve the goal of 'Green and Clean Himachal', it said. In case a department wants to purchase a diesel or petrol vehicle it will have to seek the approval of the state cabinet, it said. "In an initiative to achieve the goal of 'Green and Clean Himachal', Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed all government departments not to buy diesel or petrol vehicles from January 1st, 2024," the statement said. The chief minister said the number of government e-vehicles has reached 185 and that of private e-vehicles registered in the state at 2,733 thanks to the consistent efforts of the government. "Our government is promoting e-vehicles in Himachal in a big way. The Transport Department becomes the first department to replace its official vehicle fleet with e-vehicl

Tough yr for CM Sukhu as monsoon fury compounds Himachal's financial crunch

It was the worst monsoon in living memory for most people in Himachal Pradesh, unleashing its fury just when the new Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government was settling in. Rains lashed the state for several days during July-August. In Shimla district alone, there were three major landslides that killed nearly 30 people. Altogether, 509 people died and 38 went missing in the state during the 2023 monsoon. Over 15,000 became homeless and the state government pegged the loss to public and private property at Rs 12,000 crore. Already facing a financial crunch, the new Congress government failed to convince the Centre to declare this a national calamity and sanction the amount as a special relief package. From its own resources, it announced a package of Rs 4,500 crore for disaster-affected people. Over the year, the government and the opposition BJP bickered over who was responsible for Himachal's money problems. The Sukhu government presented a white paper, arguing that it inherited a deb

Himachal CM dedicates newly-constructed Sanjauli-Dhalli tunnel to people

The newly-constructed Sanjauli-Dhalli tunnel, built at a cost of Rs 47.36 crore, was inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here on Monday. Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sukhu said the construction work of the 154.22-metre tunnel was going on at a snail's pace under the previous government in the hill state and the Congress government expedited it and the structure was completed within a year. The state government has directed all departments to ensure a time-bound completion of every project, Sukhu was quoted as saying in a statement issued here. The existing Dhalli tunnel, which was constructed in 1852, served as a single-lane passage and had surpassed its design life, causing persistent traffic congestion. With the inauguration of the new tunnel, these issues would be addressed. Tourism, a key industry in Himachal Pradesh, stands to benefit significantly from the improved connectivity. The tunnel, strategically positioned on th

HP revives after disastrous floods, tourists visit for Christmas, New Year

He asserted that Himachal will soon stand up from the aftermath of the disaster and as a testimony of fact, today the state is all ready to welcome the tourists

Himachal Pradesh govt raised Rs 13,055 crore debt in 2022-23: CAG

The Himachal Pradesh government raised loans amounting Rs 13,055 crore during 2022-23, increasing the debt burden from Rs 73,534 in 2021-22 to Rs 86,589 crore in 2022-23, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its report on Finance Accounts for 2022-23. The loan also included the loans raised in the last quarter of 2022-23. The report tabled in the Vidhan Sabha by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that out of the total amount of Rs 50,539 crore spent during the year, more than 50 per cent was paid towards salaries and pension and expenditure on these heads increased after implementation of Sixth Pay Commission, which was followed by Himachal Pradesh. However, the revenue deficit, which was Rs 7,962 crore in 2021-22, was marginally lower at Rs 6,335 crore in 2022-23. The expenditure on salaries, which was Rs 11,641 crore in 2021-22, increased to Rs 15,669 crore in the last financial year after the revision of pay scales. Similarly, the cost of payme

Himachal to charge 8% stamp duty on corp mergers, separations: Minister

The Himachal Pradesh government will fix the rates of sand and gravel and will also charge a stamp duty of 8 per cent on merger of companies or separation of partners of companies, according to an amendment bill passed by the Assembly. The government will also charge 6 per cent stamp duty on the lease amount on the auction of mining leases. These steps are aimed at raising the resources, said state Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who introduced the Indian Stamp (Himachal Pradesh second amendment) bill 2023 in the House on Friday. After discussion on the last day of the winter session, the amendment bill was passed by voice vote. In response to the discussion on this bill, Negi said that industrial companies merge with each other and the government does not get anything in return. No stamp duty is levied on them, which causes loss to the government. In such a situation, the government is making a provision to impose an 8 per cent stamp on these companies so that resources can be

HP fiscal deficit may rise to be 5.82 pc of SGDP due to higher liabilities

Fiscal deficit of Himachal Pradesh is expected at 5.82 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), higher than projected deficit of 4.61 per cent in 2023-24 due to a rise in liabilities such as salary, pension, interest payment and social security. The tax revenue is likely to decrease by Rs 752.33 crore and the revenue deficit would be Rs 1,368.81 crore, more than anticipated, as per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRMB) report tabled in the house by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday. Further, the expenditure on pension is likely to be increased by Rs 621.22 crore from Rs 8,693 crore to Rs 9,315 crore , primary deficit would increase from Rs 4,338.13 crore to Rs 6,953.72 crore. The government has assured to bring down the deficit by curtailing expenditure and resource mobilisation. The total committed liability of the government are projected to increase from Rs 29,88,177 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 32,34,477 in 2024-25, Rs 34,75,859 crore in .

Himachal CM distributes Rs 11.31 cr to disaster-affected families in Solan

The compensation included rupees three lakh each as the first installment to 377 families whose houses were completely damaged due to the monsoon-led disaster