Page 11 - Himachal Pradesh

ADB grants $162 mn loan for new infra, tourism boost in Himachal Pradesh

The Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Development Project targets the promotion of heritage and cultural sites in the Mandi and Hamirpur districts

Flush with funds: Himachal rolls out 'toilet seat tax' amid crisis; details

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government revised rates for water supply in the state which includes new tax measures and incentives

'Desh ke pita nahi': Kangana Ranaut's remarks on Gandhi sparks fresh row

Kangana Ranaut downplayed Gandhi's stature as 'Father of the Nation' on October 2, sparking yet another controversy for the actor-turned-politician

Vikramaditya Singh meets Kharge, conveys steadfastness to Cong ideology

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh has met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and assured him about being steadfast to the party's ideology and principles, sources said on Sunday. The meeting on Saturday evening came amid a row over Singh's recent remarks that it would be mandatory for street vendors to display their identity cards at their shops. The state government later clarified no such decision had been taken. Sources said Singh met Kharge and conveyed his steadfastness to the Congress ideology and principles. Singh on Saturday said he has assuaged the Congress high command's concerns about ideology following his recent remarks on the street vendors issue and described as "misconception" the perception that the Uttar Pradesh model was being followed in his state. Singh's remarks had come a day after the Congress top brass chided him over his remarks on the mandatory display of names by the street vendors and told him that no one was allowed to go against the part

Have addressed Cong high command's concerns on ideology: Vikramaditya Singh

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Saturday said he has assuaged the Congress high command's concerns about ideology following his recent remarks on the street vendors issue and termed as "misconception" the perception that Uttar Pradesh model was being followed in his state. He said the multi-party committee formed by the Speaker in Himachal Pradesh would discuss all issues about street vending on October 3. Singh's remarks came a day after the Congress top brass chided him over his remarks on mandatory display of names by the street vendors and told him that no one was allowed to go against the party's policies and ideologies. Amid a row over the comments, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal had a meeting here with Singh on Friday during which the minister was told that the party believed in Rahul Gandhi's mantra of fighting hatred with love. In an interview with PTI Videos, Singh said that there was no controversy on the ground and it was

Hindu outfits rally in Himachal demanding Waqf Board be abolished

Hundreds of people took out a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur on Saturday under the banner of Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, demanding abolishing the Waqf Board and verifying the identification documents of migrants to the state. The organisation had given a call for a statewide protest over the issues. Led by Surjeet Singh, the district president of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti and Ashish Sharma, the district chief of Bajrang Dal, the procession passed was attended by several people who waved saffron flags and banners. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers in the town to maintain law and order while shops owned by members of a minority religious community remained closed. Leaders of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti submitted a memorandum to the local administration demanding that the Waqf Board be abolished and identification documents of migrants be checked. Addressing the rally, the leaders of the organisation demanded that a proposal to check the documents of migra

Street vendors row: Congress tells Vikramaditya to adhere to party ideology

Amid a row over Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh's remarks on mandatory display of names by street vendors, the Congress brass on Friday chided and told him that no one was allowed to go against the party's policies and ideologies, sources said. Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, KC Venugopal had a meeting with Singh here during which the minister was told that the party believed in Rahul Gandhi's mantra of fighting hatred with love, they said. While Singh was told that he must adhere to the party's ideology and policies, he in turn informed the party brass that he was misquoted by the media. Facing flak over Singh's announcement on mandatory display of names by street vendors, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday said no such decision had been taken. Singh, the public works and urban development minister, on Wednesday told reporters that it would be mandatory for street vendors, especially those selling food items, to display their identity card

Himachal mandates ID display for all shop owners, vendors for public safety

All shopkeepers and vendors are required to display their identification to avoid any inconvenience for the public. Street vendors selling food items should also maintain proper hygiene standards

Cong challenges Kangana to prove charge against Himachal govt, Sonia Gandhi

The Himachal Pradesh Congress on Monday challenged Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut to prove her allegation that the state government took loans and diverted the money to Sonia Gandhi, failing which it said it would file a defamation case against her. Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh told reporters that her comments showed the BJP MP's "intellectual bankruptcy". "There cannot be a bigger foolish statement than saying that funds coming from the Centre or the state's funds for development are being given to Sonia Gandhi," he said. "I openly challenge BJP MP Kangana Ranaut to show proof of even Rs 1 being diverted or apologise to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for making such baseless and unwarranted allegations against her. Otherwise, the Congress will file a defamation case against her," the minister added. Actor-politician Ranaut on Sunday claimed everyone was aware that Congress-ruled state governments had hollowed out their coffers. Attacking the Himachal Pradesh government, sh

Himachal govt to issue SOP soon as loan scheme expanded to education abroad

Days after the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved to extend benefits of the Dr YS Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojna to overseas education, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued in this regard soon. The state cabinet on Friday decided to expand the scope of the scheme, under which educational loan of up to Rs 20 lakh is provided at one per cent to eligible students aspiring to pursue professional and vocational courses, to include overseas educational institutions. On Sunday, Sukhu said that this initiative will benefit students aspiring to pursue higher studies in foreign institutions, ensuring that financial limitations do not stand in the way of their educational aspirations. A detailed SOP will be issued in this regard by the education department soon, he added. The state government launched the loan scheme last year to support the eligible meritorious students of economically weaker sections. Students from ...

156 roads, one NH closed in HP as rain continues to lash parts of state

A total of 156 roads including National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Road) were closed for vehicular movement in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday morning as rain continues to lash parts of the state, officials said. Moderate rain continued in some parts of the state with Katula logging the highest rainfall of 78.5 mm, since Friday evening, the meteorological department said. During this period Palampur recorded 68 mm rainfall, followed by 60 mm in Baijnath, 58.4 mm in Mandi, 56.4 mm in Guler, 53 mm in Dharamshala, 51.4 mm in Kufri, 50 mm in Shimla and Jogindernagar each, 48.6 mm in Naina Devi, 46.6 mm in Kangra, 46 mm in Nagrota Suriyanas, it said. The National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Road) was closed at Malling Nallah in Kinnaur district following landslide and falling of shooting stones. A maximum of 94 roads are closed in Shimla, 46 in Mandi, ten in Kangra, three in Kullu and one each in Bilapsur, Kinnaur and Sirmaur districts due to rains, landslide and flash floods as per the Sta

Freebies, declining central grants: Himachal's uphill task to fix finances

State has announced it will impose electricity consumption cess and defer salaries of ministers for two months

Mandi tension: CM Sukhu makes appeal to maintain peace, welcome tourists

Amid tension after demand for demolition of "unauthorised" mosque structure in Mandi and protests by Hindu outfits, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday appealed to the people to maintain peace and brotherhood and said tourists are welcome. "We appeal to maintain peace and brotherhood and welcome tourists," said the chief minister while addressing media persons after an all-party meeting here with state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, BJP leader Randhir Sharma, CPI(M) leader Rakesh Singha, AAP leader Surjit Singh and others. "I have appealed to everyone to maintain peace and make no provocative statements, and that is why an all-party meeting. No one is allowed to take the law into their hands. "We respect everyone. The land of Himachal has respect for all religions," the chief minister said. Referring to the protest on Friday by Hindu organisations demanding demolition of the "encroached" structure of a mosque in Mandi town, he said Himachal Pradesh is a

Protests in Himachal's Mandi over mosque built on encroached land

Police used water cannons on Friday to disperse protestors demanding the demolition of a mosque built on encroached land in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town. The protestors initially held a march in the Mandi market area and sat on a dharna at Seri manch. Later, when they made attempts to proceed towards the mosque, police stopped them and used water cannons to bring the situation under control. Security had been beefed up by the police in Mandi with the deployment of heavy force after Hindu outfits gave the call for a protest march. On Thursday, members of the Muslim community had themselves demolished an unauthorised portion of the mosque located on Jail Road in the town. The mosque stands on land belonging to the public works department. Both the PWD and the municipal corporation had served notices to the mosque management over this.

IMD predicts light to moderate rainfall in some Himachal Pradesh districts

Additionally, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Solan districts are expected to receive light rainfall for the next two to three hours

Heavy rain over last few days lead to closure of over 60 roads in Himachal

Over 60 roads have been blocked in Himachal Pradesh following rains in the past days, officials said on Monday. A maximum of 30 roads were closed in Shimla, 16 in Mandi, 10 in Kangra, two in Kullu and one each in Kinnaur, Una, Sirmaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, the state emergency operation centre (SEOC) said. As many as 17 power schemes are also disrupted in the state, the SEOC said. Light rains lashed few parts of the state since Sunday evening. Kasauli was the wettest, recording 25 mm of rain followed by 18.6 mm in Shimla, 16 mm in Jubbarhatti, 12.3 mm in Kufri, 12.2 mm in Naina Devi, 8.4 mm in Solan, 5.2 mm in Berthin and 5 mm in Dalhousie. Himachal Pradesh's rainfall deficit since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 27 stands at 21 per cent, with the state receiving 524.1 mm rainfall against an average of 663.9 mm. A total of 158 people have died in rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon season from June 27 till September 7, while 30 are still missing.

Best of BS Opinion: Warning signs, enabling environments and more

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Himachal's fiscal condition is a lesson for states in what not to do

Rising competitive populism among states could seriously undermine India's long-term potential

Over 60 roads blocked in Himachal Pradesh following heavy rains today

Over 60 roads have been blocked in Himachal Pradesh following rains, officials said on Sunday. A maximum of 31 roads were closed in Mandi, 13 in Shimla and Mandi, 10 in Kangra, four in Kinnaur, two in Kullu and one each in Una, Sirmaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, the state emergency operation centre (SEOC) said. National Highway 5 (the Hindustan-Tibet road) is blocked near Negulsari in Kinnaur district. As many as 11 power and one water supply scheme are also disrupted in the state, the SEOC said. Moderate rains lashed parts of the state since Saturday evening. Una was the wettest, recording 48 mm of rain followed by Kufri 19.8 mm, Sangla 17.2 mm, Jubbarhatti 15.6 mm, Mandi 15.6 mm, Nichar 14.8 mm, Bijahi 14 mm, Kalpa 8.1, Berthin 7 mm, Dehra Gopipur 6.3 mm and Dalhousie 5 mm. Himachal Pradesh's rainfall deficit since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 27 stands at 21 per cent, with the state receiving 522.2 mm rainfall against an average of 657.9 mm. A total of 158 peo

State govt to bear only 28% of Shimla's Ropeway project: Himachal CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh government would bear only 28 per cent cost of Rs 1,734.70 crore Shimla Innovative Urban Transportation Ropeway Network Project, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said in the state assembly on Thursday. The 13.65 km long Ropeway from Tara Devi to Shimla would be executed on EPS (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode, he said in a written response to a question by BJP's Sudhir Sharma. The rate of interest would be finalised after a tripartite agreement between the state government, Finance Ministry and Department of Economic Affairs and Government of India, he said. The fare for commuters has not been decided yet, Sukhu said. Tenders for advance purchases would be invited only after approval from National Development Bank. The contribution of the state government would be 20 per cent while NDB funding would be 80 per cent of which 90 per cent would be subsidy and 10 per cent would be loans. Adding the loan component, the contribution of the state ...