Page 34 - Himachal Pradesh

Himachal tourism corporation offering up to 50% discount on hotel room rent

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) on Saturday announced offering up to 50 per cent discount on hotel room rent, days after the state government evacuated more than 70,000 stranded tourists following landslides and flash floods due to heavy rains. The discount on room rent in HPTDC-run hotels will be in force till September 15, a spokesperson of the corporation said in a statement. He said that by providing this substantial discount, HPTDC endeavours to elevate the overall experience of the esteemed visitors and foster higher occupancy in their hotels during the monsoon. The tourist occupancy in the state is almost nil after the heavy rains between July 7 and 14, Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association president M K Seth said, adding that the situation is fast improving and roads are being opened. Tourists are welcome to the state, he said. HPTDC is renowned for its warm hospitality, impeccable service, and comfortable accommodations. The special room re

HP CM requests Centre to release pending disaster fund of over Rs 315 cr

To address the immediate needs of people affected due to rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Saturday requested the Centre to release the state's pending disaster relief fund of over Rs 315 crore. The chief minister said the state's disaster compensation worth Rs 315.8 crore has been withheld for the past few years. The delay was attributed to objections raised by the Accountant General, which the state government has successfully resolved through persistent efforts, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. The pending funds include Rs 121.71 crore allocated for 2020-21, Rs 133.56 crore for 2021-22 under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 61.07 crore for 2019-20 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the statement added. Stating that all objections have been cleared now, the chief minister urged that the funds be released at the earliest as the hill state is witnessing severe devastation caused by incessant rains a

Gadkari assures Rs 300 cr for damaged roads, bridges: Himachal minister

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has assured sanctioning of Rs 300 crore for reconstructing damaged roads and bridges connecting national highways in Himachal Pradesh, state's Public Works Department (PWD) minister Vikranaditya Singh said on Thursday. The fund will be sanctioned under the Setu Bharatam Yojna, according to an official statement. Singh, who met the minister for road transport and highways in New Delhi, said that Gadkari also ordered the concerned authority to identify the spots of land sliding areas around national highways and find a permanent solution. Gadkari directed the authorities to take appropriate action so that funds can be provided for repairing and restoring the bridges, which were damaged due to recent heavy rains, connecting state PWD roads to national highways, the statement added. Singh, as per the statement, apprised the Union minister about the devastation caused by incessant rains and cloudbursts across the state. He also discussed various road and br

Himachal BJP rejigs state executive, 9 V-Ps, 3 gen secys appointed

A day after replacing the organisational district presidents, state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal on Thursday announced a complete overhaul of the state executive on Thursday. According to a statement issued here, nine vice presidents, three general secretaries, seven secretaries, presidents of state BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha, a media in-charge and ten spokespersons have been appointed. The newly appointed vice presidents include Varinder Kanwar, Rajiv Saijal and Govind Thakur (all former ministers), Pawan Kajal and Hans Raj (both sitting MLAs), former Mahila Morcha head Rashmi Dhar Sood, Payal Vaidya, Sanjeev Katwal and Rajiv Baradwaj. Rajya Sabha member Dr Sikender Kumar has been appointed as a party general secretary. Trilok Kapoor and Bihari Lal Sharma are the other two general secretaries, the statement said. The state secretaries includes Vinod Kumar (MLA), Vishal Chauhan, Dr Sanjay Thakur, Narendra Attri, Sumit Sharma, Daizy Thakur and Munish Chauhan. Karan Nanda has been

Rains in HP: Flash floods damage houses, Shimla-Kinnaur highway blocked

Flash floods damaged houses and inundated agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh's Kamru Panchayat on Thursday while the Shimla-Kinnaur highway was blocked due to a swollen Broni stream between Rampur and Jhakri, officials said. Since the onset of monsoon in the hill state, 130 people have died in rain-related incidents such as landslides and flash floods, and road accidents, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Response Centre. The state has suffered a loss of Rs 4,809 crore. On the situation in Kamru Panchayat in the Sangla Valley, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tarul S Raveesh said flash floods increased the water flow in a stream. Horticulture as well as agriculture land have been inundated and the loss is being assessed, the official said. Reports of damage to houses and vehicles are also pouring in, the DC said and added that no casualty has been reported yet. Shimla DC Aditya Negi said following a cloudburst, water level in the Broni Nallah increased and inunda

'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 BJP demands all-party meeting on disaster situation in the state

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Chief Spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh BJP, Randheer Sharma said that the Congress-led state government failed to deal with the disaster

SJVN's 2 plants in Himachal produce 50.5 mn units of power in one day

Power producer SJVN has achieved record single-day generation of 50.498 million units from two hydro power stations in Himachal Pradesh, the company's CMD Nand Lal Sharma said on Tuesday. The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) achieved a new milestone of 39.527 MU of power generation, surpassing its previous record of 39.526 MU on August 29, 2022. The Rampur Hydro Power Station (Rampur HPS) achieved 10.971 MU of power generation, breaking its previous record of 10.954 MU on July 16, 2023, Sharma said in a statement. Both plants recorded their respective highest power generation levels on July 17. "SJVN has established a new all time high record of 50.498 MU in single day power generation from its two flagship hydro power stations in Himachal Pradesh," Sharma said. The milestone is the result of efficient management, optimum operation and maintenance practices as well as proper repair and maintenance of the project components which has contributed in achieving maximu

Railways might resume temporary trains between Shimla, Solan today

The railway is likely to start temporary trains in the Shimla and Solan region as the train operations in the Kalka-Shimla track has been suspended since July 9

Three central govt teams to visit Himachal to assess losses due to floods

Speaking to ANI Jagat Singh Negi said, Tomorrow three central teams are reaching Chandigarh, they will be visiting Mandi, Kullu and Rohru areas of Shimla district

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

MakeMyTrip Foundation pledges Rs 5 crore to aid flood relief efforts

The foundation is working with government bodies, experts, and local partners to provide relief to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Jal Shakti dept suffers Rs 1,411 cr loss due to floods: Himchal Dy CM

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday said the Jal Shakti Department has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,411 crore due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the hill state. He said 5,203 drinking water schemes, 1,237 irrigation schemes and 55 sewerage schemes were affected while 101 flood control works were damaged. Agnihotri, who holds the portfolio of Jal Shakti Vibhag, said while 4,623 schemes have been restored so far, it will take time to fix all of them. "We have been able to restore them because of the passionate and steely spirits of our employees," he said. "I appreciate the work being done by the employees and officers of the department for the restoration of drinking water and sewerage schemes in difficult circumstances," he added. Agnihotri said the government's aim was to provide relief to the affected people at the earliest. So far, 118 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents in the state since the on

One killed, three injured in cloudburst in Himachal's Kullu district

A cloudburst occurred in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district early Monday, leaving a man dead and three others injured, officials said. The cloudburst occurred around 3:55 am near village Kayas in Kullu, washing away vehicles and blocking a road, according to the state emergency response centre. The deceased was identified as Badal Sharma, a resident of village Chansari in Kullu, they said, adding two of the injured are in a serious condition. Local authorities immediately responded to the emergency situation and machinery has been deployed to clear the blockade on the road hampering rescue operations, they said. The local MeT Office had issued an orange alert warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in the state on Monday. So far, 118 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents in the state since the onset of monsoon on June 24, according to the state emergency response centre.The state has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 4,415 crore.

Hydropower in Himalayan states restart as floods recede but more rain looms

Plants managed by NHPC Ltd., JSW Energy Ltd., SJVN Ltd. and Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. are operating again after being clogged by silt from the floods, according to the regional grid operator

LIVE: Delhi CM deputes ministers to ensure facilities at relief camps

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

VAT on diesel rose by Rs 3/litre in Himachal, cheaper than Punjab: CM Sukhu

In a bid to enhance revenue, the Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday increased the value added tax (VAT) on diesel by Rs 3 per litre to Rs 10.40 per litre. VAT on diesel has been increased from 9.90 per cent to 13.9 per cent, an increase of Rs 3 per litre from Rs 7.40 to Rs 10.40 per litre, as per the notification issued by the State Excise and Taxation department. Justifying the increase, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the previous BJP government had reduced the VAT by seven per cent on the eve of the last assembly polls held in November 2022 and the increase was imperative for mobilising resources along with other measures. He said the state has suffered huge losses due to heavy rains and resources have to be mobilized in this hour. The roads, water supply schemes and electricity have been restored temporarily and it would take almost a year to restore the damaged infrastructure. In spite of an increase in VAT, diesel is cheaper in the state as compare

Himachal suffered losses of about Rs 8,000 crore due to rain: CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses of about Rs 8,000 crore as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill state, triggering landslides and flash floods and damaging roads and other infrastructure, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. According to the state emergency response centre, the losses amounted to about Rs 4,000 crore till Friday night and Sukhu had sought an interim relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the Union home ministry. About 70,000 tourists have been evacuated from the state and 15,000 vehicles sent out, while around 500 tourists have voluntarily decided to stay back, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. Some tourists stuck at Kasol, Manikaran and other adjoining areas in Kullu district refused to move out without their vehicles and have decided to stay back for a few more days till the situation normalises and all roads are opened. Due to a heavy landslide near Dunkhara on the Kasol-Bhuntar road, the vehicles could not be moved and the tourists had to tr

Centre standing with states in this time of crisis: Nadda on rain aftermath

Asserting that the Centre is standing with states dealing with the aftermath of heavy rains, BJP president J P Nadda has said the Union government has "released" a second instalment of "Rs 181 crore" for Himachal Pradesh. Nadda, who visited the flood-affected areas in Kullu and Mandi districts on Friday, said the Centre's grant will help reduce the debt burden of the state that has increased due to the damage caused by the rains. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the advance release of the second instalment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), amounting to Rs 180.40 crore for 2023-24, as an interim relief to Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said on Friday. The release of funds will help the state government undertake relief measures for those affected by the rains, the statement said. To support those affected in Himachal Pradesh, the central government had released the first instalment of the central share of Rs 180.40 crore to the state

Himachal Pradesh authorities urge people to boil water before drinking

The water supply in Hamirpur town of Himachal Pradesh was restored on Saturday after a gap of six days amid incessant rainfall in the state, but residents claimed the water is so muddy it is unfit for drinking. Many residents of the town also complained that they were being forced to purchase water from tanker owners at Rs 1,700 per tanker. Officials of the Jal Shakti department said there is a possibility of water bodies getting muddy because of the torrential rain over the last few days and people should take precautions to prevent any water-borne diseases. Superintending Engineer, Jal Shakti, Neeraj Bhogal said although the department was determined to provide clean drinking water, precautions should be taken. He advised the residents of Hamirpur district to boil water for at least 20 minutes before drinking and regularly clean water storage utensils and tanks. Hamirpur district witnessed an outbreak of water-borne diseases in January and jaundice in June this year. The depart