Page 8 - Himachal Pradesh Government

Himachal govt identified 11 sites for developing eco-tourism: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government has identified 11 sites for developing and promoting ecotourism in the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said. Presiding over a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh EcoTourism Society here on Monday evening, he said every eco-tourism destination will be developed in an area of one hectare. The sites identified include Swaar, Saurabh Van Vihar, Neugal Park, Bir-Billing in Palampur forest division, Kasol, Kheer Ganga and Sumarupa in Parvati forest division, Sojha in Seraj, Narkanda in Kotgarh, Shogi camping site and Potter Hill camping site under Shimla forest division. Himachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural beauty and the eco-tourism would help in increasing tourist footfall and add to the state's revenue as well, Sukhu said, adding that it will also help in generating employment opportunities.

SJVNL aims to become 50,000 MW capacity company by 2040, says CMD

SJVNL, a joint venture of the Centre and Himachal Pradesh government, aims to become a 50,000 MW capacity company by 2040 and add installed capacity of 10,000 MW during next three years, a senior company official said here on Saturday. Addressing a press conference, SJVNL Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma said the company has made rapid strides in the past 35 years and not only made foray into wind and solar energy, but also got projects in other states and foreign countries, including Nepal and Bhutan. The company earned highest-ever revenue of Rs 3,299 crore in 2022-23, which is 25.6 per cent more than the revenue of Rs 2,626 crore in 2021-22, Sharma said. Further, he said the company declared a dividend of Rs 1.77 per share for 2022-23 and paid a dividend of Rs 6,600 crore to the central government and Rs 1,050 crore to the Himachal Pradesh government and per share value of the company has increased from Rs 32.65 in September 2021 to Rs 73.15 in September 2023. The

Universal cartons soon to be mandatory for selling apples in Himachal

Use of Universal Cartons will be mandatory for sale of apples in terms of weight in Himachal Pradesh from next year, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi announced in the state assembly on Saturday. Taking part in a discussion initiated by Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Negi said that the government has already decided that only universal cartons (universal standard of grading) of 24 kg weight would be allowed for sale of apples from the next year and telescopic cartons in which the weight could be increased would be banned. The government did not ban telescopic cartons this year as the growers had unused cartons and relaxation was given so that they did not suffer any loss, he said, adding that the decision to sell apples by weight was implemented strictly by the government and growers benefitted as one box fetched up to Rs 4,000. The middlemen (Aartis) were opposing it as it was causing loss to them but the government did not relent and a fine of up to Rs 22 lakh was impose

Aamir Khan extends aid to families affected by calamity in Himachal Pradesh

He has donated Rs 25 lakh to the Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 as a charitable gesture to help the families devastated by the current disaster

Centre allotted Rs 862 cr: Thakur's swipe at HP govt over funds claim

Thakur also hit out at the ruling Congress government in the state for cribbing over funds crunch

Centre sanctions outlay of Rs 1,164 cr for IDS for Himachal, Uttarakhand

These incentives include the Central Capital Investment Incentive for Access to Credit (CCIIAC) at 30 per cent of the investment in Plant and Machinery with an upper limit of Rs 5.00 crore

Govt working on war footing to open roads in disaster-hit Himachal: Sukhu

He said that he would talk to the Prime Minister and home minister if needed

Meghdoot app to be upgraded for precise weather forecast: Himachal CM

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to upgrade the Meghdoot application for precise weather forecasts and agricultural advisories to farmers, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. The decision has been taken in view of the unpredictable and evolving climate patterns, which are posing a significant threat to the state's agriculture and horticulture sectors, he said in a statement issued here. The Meghdoot application presently offers current weather information and a five-day weather forecast, including data on rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction down to the block level, and these factors play crucial roles in the agricultural operations. The chief minister has directed the department of environment, science technology and climate change to make the farmers and horticulturists more aware about this application and the outlined plans for service improvements. During this monsoon, Himachal Pradesh witnessed enormous devastation, severely

Himachal imposes 2-week ban on hill cutting, fresh building permissions

Hill cutting for any kind of private development and construction activity except for rebuilding disaster-affected buildings and roads have been banned in Himachal Pradesh for two weeks up to September 16, a spokesperson of the state government said here on Saturday. Besides, fresh permission for planning and building construction has also been banned for commercial or tourism units in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, Solan and Chamba districts for two weeks. The spokesperson said during the ongoing monsoon season, unprecedented environmental disruptions, including catastrophic landslides, land subsidence, river-bank failures and severe erosion, have been witnessed across the state, leading to the tragic loss of lives and properties. He said the decision has been taken to ensure utmost safety for human lives, habitations, infrastructure and to preserve the fragile ecological environment of the hill state. The order shall come into force with immediate effect and violations will be dea

Over 50 people rescued, bridge connecting Baddi-Pinjaur washed away in HP

Over 50 people were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district following a cloudburst and have been rescued by the NDRF, officials said on Friday. The cloudburst took place in Shehnu Gouni village on Thursday and also triggered a landslide that blocked roads at many places. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) travelled 15 km on foot to rescue the stranded people, including 15 children, and shift them to safe places, the officials said. In another rain-related incident, the Maranwala bridge in Baddi connecting industrial Baddi area and Pinjaur collapsed on Friday following heavy flow of water in Balad river due to recent rains. No loss of life was reported in the incident, officials said. "The Maranwala Bridge has been washed away and traffic has been diverted through Kalka-Kalujhanda-Barotiwala road," Superintendent of Police, Baddi, Mohit Chawala told PTI. Heavy rains in the state have led to closure of 709 roads. So far 242 people have died in rain-related

HP rain fury: Death toll over past week climbs to 78; more rains forecast

The death toll in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh over the past week rose to 78 on Saturday with the recovery of one more body from the debris of a collapsed Shiv temple here, officials said. Out of the 78 deaths since Sunday night, 24 were in the three major landslides in Shimla alone -- 17 at the Shiv temple in Summer Hill, 5 in Fagli, and 2 in Krishnanagar, Superintendent, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI on Saturday. Joint operations of Army, National and State Disaster Response Force, Police and Home Guards are underway to retrieve the bodies from the landslide rubble and at least three persons are still feared buried under the temple debris, the SP said. Drones are being used for identification of high risk zones and monitoring of sliding sites in the state capital, he added. On Friday, the Himachal Pradesh government declared the state as a "Natural Calamity Affected Area" in view of the damage caused by heavy rains leading to loss of human life and extensive

JP Nadda to visit Himachal on Aug 20, take stock of flood situation

Incessant rain has led to landslides, cloudbust and flash floods, causing significant damage in the State

Over 50 chopper sorties in last 48 hrs, rescued over 780 in HP: IAF

Earlier, on Wednesday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions of Indora and Fatehpur in the Kangra district

16 killed in Shimla landslides, Solan cloudburst in Himachal, schools shut

A cloudburst in Jadon village of Himachal Pradesh's Solan districts left seven members of a family dead, police said on Monday. Two houses were washed away in the cloudburst that took place on Sunday night and six people were rescued. The dead were identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8) and Raksha (12), Superintendent of Police, Solan, Gaurav Singh said. In another rain-related incident, several people are feared trapped in a landslide at Shiv temple in Summer Hill area of Shimla city.Rescue operations are underway. In view of the heavy rains, all schools and colleges in the state have been ordered to be shut on Monday.

4 killed in two separate incidents involving apple-laden trucks in Shimla

Four people were crushed by apple-laden trucks in two separate road incidents in Shimla, police said on Wednesday. Two people were crushed to death coming under a truck laden with apples in Chaila area of Shimla district, police said. The incident happened Tuesday evening when the truck from Narkanda was going outside the state taking the Rajgarh-Solan road. The truck, reportedly by mistake, veered towards Chaila market instead of the SainjRajgarh road and going out of control, hit four vehicles, turned turtle, and crushed two people, one of whom was a woman. According to preliminary investigations by police, a brake failure led to the accident. The bodies were extracted with the help of an excavator and sent for post mortem to the Civil Hospital in Theog, police said. A case has been registered and investigations are underway, they said. In the second incident, driver of another apple-laden truck coming from Theog lost control over the vehicle near Dhalli in the outskirts of Shi

CM Sukhu to preside over state-level Independence Day function in Manali

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will preside over a state-level Independence Day event at the Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment, Manali, in Kullu district, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday. Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Multipurpose Projects and Power, Tourism, Forest and Transport, Sunder Singh Thakur will accompany Sukhu on the day, he said.

Cong workers disappointed at not being heard by Sukhu govt: Ex-state chief

Speaking to reporters in Shimla on Saturday, the Theog MLA and former Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief said party workers were not happy with the Sukhu government

Loss incurred by HP due to rains estimated to be around Rs 8,000 cr: Sukhu

The Chief Minister said there is a need for immediate financial relief from the Union Government

'One State-One Portal' to bring all ULB services under one canopy: CM Sukhu

The Chief Minister directed to make all the essential services like property tax, bill payments, notices, all types of NOCs and permissions online

Himachal Pradesh govt enhances relief aid for disaster-hit families

In a relief to the victims of the recent landslides, flash floods and cloudburst triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government Monday enhanced the compensation for several categories. Financial assistance will be provided to the families affected by landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts which occurred from July 7 to 15, under special norms, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued here. Sukhu had announced assistance of Rs 1 lakh to affected families on July 11, saying the government will make changes to the relief manual for enhancing the relief aid. According to the manual, each disaster victim is granted Rs 5,000 as an aid at present. The compensation enhancement on Monday covered damage to houses, dhabas, shops, and agriculture and horticulture lands. In view of the unprecedented tragedy, the financial aid of Rs 12,500 and Rs 10,000 for partial damage to pucca and kutcha houses respectively has been increased to Rs on