Page 36 - Himachal Pradesh

PWD minister reviews preparedness in Himachal after IMD rain alert

The legislator of Shimla, Harish Janartha, said that a task force has also been constituted to monitor the rain situation in Shimla town

460 village forest societies, over 900 SHGs in 7 Himachal districts

As many as 460 village forest development societies and more than 900 self-help groups have been established across seven districts of Himachal Pradesh, a statement issued here on Thursday said. The development has taken place under the forestry and natural resource management projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These projects have been instrumental in augmenting the lush greenery of the region, it said, adding that they also prioritise the skill enhancement and capacity building of forest-dependent communities and field staff. With over 15,000 individuals trained in livelihood activities and forest regeneration, the project mitigates the risks posed by climate change and related disasters, the statement added. Employing advanced techniques and technological interventions, over 4,600 hectares of land have been adorned with carefully planned plantations over the past two years. Furthermore, the project places great emphasis on developing nurseries

Assam CM apprises PM Modi about flood situation in state over call

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi and apprised him about the prevailing flood situation in the state. Sarma briefed Modi on various measures taken by the state government to provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected, according to an official release. The PM appreciated the steps taken by the state government to deal with the flood situation and assured Sarma that all possible help and assistance will be extended by the Centre, it said Sarma also briefed him about the various development initiatives taken by the state government. "I had the privilege of seeking blessings of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in Delhi. Assam's well-being remains the top priority for Hon'ble PM. I apprised him on our developmental journey and received his kind guidance on the way forward," Sarma later tweeted.

Shimla police introduces river guard system to prevent drowning incidents

Shimla police on Thursday introduced a River Guard System in this Himachal Pradesh district to prevent frequent drowning incidents, especially during the ongoing monsoon season. As per the police data about 105 persons, including 21 women and nine children, have drowned in the district since 2018. Of these, 17 persons were reported dead this year. The maximum number of incidents, 22, were reported from Chirgaon in the Rohru subdivision followed by 19 each in Rampur, 13 in Kumarsain, nine in Theog, five each in Jhakri and Jubbal and four each in Sunni and Dhalli areas of the capital district. A majority of those who drowned were young. Such deaths bring a lot of pain to the families of the deceased and a series of operations are required to rescue the drowned or recover their bodies from water, police said. These incidents increase during the monsoon season as rivers are in spate and, therefore, we have introduced the river guard system in the district to save precious lives, Shimla

World Bank to provide $200 mn for power sector reforms in Himachal

The World Bank will provide USD 200 million (about Rs 1,600 crore loan) to finance the Himachal Power Sector Development Program to bring improvements in renewable energy integration in the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. With the addition of state equity, the total outlay for the programme would be Rs 2,000 crore and the World Bank funding is expected to be available by August 2023 for a duration of five years up to 2028, he said in a statement issued here. He also informed that the World Bank Board has approved the programme on June 27, 2023, in Washington. Improvements in the utilisation of renewable energy, reliability of grid at transmission and distribution level and strengthening of the institutional capacities of the various power utilities/agencies of the state would be undertaken under the programme, he said. Efforts will be made towards the promotion of integrated resource planning of the power sector, piloting demand response management,

Rains continue to lash Himachal, loss due to floods pegged at Rs 219.29 cr

Moderate to heavy rains continue to lash parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, triggering landslides and leading to closure of over 100 roads across the state. As many as 127 roads were closed, out of which 90 are expected to be opened by Wednesday night, officials said. The cumulative losses due to rain-related incidents since the onset of monsoon on June 24 is estimated to be Rs 219.29 crore. The Jal Shakti Vibhag suffered maximum loss with Rs 100.97 crore, followed by the Public Works department with 90.50 crore and Horticulture department with 26.22 crore, according to data by the state emergency operation centre. Meanwhile, four persons were killed and one other was injured in a car accident on Wednesday as the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off and fell into a gorge on Bhadrash-Rohru link road here. The toll due to rain-related incidents has risen to 19 in the state, while 34 have sustained injuries and three others are missing, according to official data. The lo

DealShare to invest Rs 1,000 cr in SMEs in 5 yrs, assist its private labels

Social commerce firm said it will help brands find wider appeal, ensure manufacturing quality

Mandi-Kullu highway opened in Himachal Pradesh; Tourists' woes continue

Mandi-Kullu highway opened after 20 hours on Monday night, and many other roads are blocked due to rain and landslides. Tourists' struggle continues amid landslides

Decision to cut import duty on US apples to harm Himachal farmers: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday condemned the central government's decision to reduce import duty on Washington (American) apples from 70 per cent to 50 per cent and said it would harm the interest of farmers of Himachal Pradesh. In a statement issued here, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore, who is also the sitting Congress MLA from Theog assembly seat (apple belt), said that the decision would cause harm to the apple industry of Himachal Pradesh. "The apple growers are already under severe crisis due to an increase in the production cost following a rise in prices of pesticides, fungicides, labour and other packing materials caused due to inflation under the BJP rule," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also failed to keep his promise of increasing import duty on apples up to 100 per cent as promised during the election campaign in Himachal Pradesh in the previous Lok Sabha Election campaign, he said. He demanded that the Union government shoul

Tandi-Killar state highway-26 in Himachal Pradesh blocked amid flash flood

According to the Public Works Department minister, over 300 roads have been blocked in the state due to the incessant rain

HP govt to set up 250 Ayush wellness centres, 500 herbal gardens: CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state government will set up 250 Ayush wellness centres and 500 herbal gardens in Himachal to give a boost to the Ayurvedic system. In a statement issued here, Sukhu said that these herbal gardens will not only produce quality herbal medicines but also emerge as an added attraction to the tourists visiting the state. The state government will set up 250 Ayush centres and develop 500 herbal gardens in collaboration with Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Education and Forest departments in different parts of the state during the current financial year, he said. It will enable people to derive benefits of ancient Indian medical science -- Ayurveda, the chief minister said. Stressing that introduction of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) therapies in the prevention of disease, and treatment of subclinical conditions and chronic ailments can add a new dimension to the healthcare system, Sukhu

Several commuters stranded as floods block highway in Himachal Pradesh

Hundreds of commuters were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district as the Chandigarh-Manali national highway was blocked following flash floods and landslides, officials said on Monday. The 70-km Mandi-Pandoh-Kullu stretch has been badly affected, they said. A total of 301 roads are closed in the state following heavy rains, while 140 power transformers are disrupted. Flash floods were witnessed in Khotinallah near Aut, about 40 km from Mandi town, on the Pandoh-Kullu stretch due to a heavy downpour and the commuters have been stranded since Sunday evening. The alternative Mandi-Kullu route via Katola, blocked due to landslide, has been opened after almost 20 hours and small vehicles are now being diverted through this stretch, said the officials of the Mandi administration. The Mandi-Pandoh stretch was blocked near 6 Miles after a landslide. The officials said restoration work is underway and explosives are being used to blast heavy boulders blocking roads on this stretch.

Heavy rainfall blocks Manali-Chandigarh Highway, restoration work begins

The heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district blocked Manali-Chandigarh Highway on Sunday evening. The restoration work is under process

Flash flood hits Bagipul area in HP, over 200 including tourists stranded

The Mandi police informed that the road leading to Parashar ahead of Kamand was closed due to a flood after a cloudburst around Baghi bridge in Mandi

2 dead as heavy rain lashes Himachal, state incurs Rs 78 lakh damage

Flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Solan and Hamirpur districts and heavy rain in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu on Sunday killed two people, damaged crops, homes and vehicles, and washed away livestock. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre on Sunday, one person drowned in Hamirpur and Shimla district each. The rain also damaged 11 houses and vehicles each as well as four cowsheds. The state suffered estimated losses of Rs 78 lakh in the past 24 hours, it said. Three houses were damaged in Lahaul and Spiti, five in Hamirpur, two in Solan and one in Mandi. Eight vehicles were damaged in Kullu, two in Lahaul and Spiti and one in Sirmaur. Uprooted trees blocked traffic on 126 roads, including two national highways. Power supply was also disrupted as 141 transformers suffered damage, emergency centre officials said. Following the cloudburst, water gushed into four homes and also damaged the panchayat building in the Kheri area of Sujanpur subdivision of

Himachal contemplating forming task force to combat drug menace: CM Sukhu

The state government is contemplating the formation of a special task force to combat drug menace, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Sunday. Presiding over a ceremony at the Gaiety Theatre here to felicitate the winners of various events organised under 'Pradhaav - Wipe out drugs campaign,' he said that the government also plans to establish two state-of-the-art drug de-addiction-cum-rehabilitation centres. A piece of land spread over about 50 bighas is being identified to set up each centre, he said. Sukhu said that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act must be made more stringent with a provision that allows authorities to confiscate property of convicted drug dealers. He said the matter has already been taken up with the central government. Sukhu also stressed the need to modernise the police department with the use of modern technologies like artificial intelligence to make it more efficient.

Himachal govt to decongest Shimla, project to cost over Rs 100 cr: CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the state government has prepared a comprehensive blueprint to decongest Shimla and increase tourist footfall at an estimated cost of over Rs 100 crore. Sukhu said approximately Rs 77 crore will be spent for land acquisition and to compensate the private owners whose properties would be demolished to widen the roads, while Rs 20 crore has been earmarked for the development and widening of the road. Additionally, Rs 3.50 crore has been provisioned for the construction of a flyover from Metropole to High Court Junction, he said. The state government has a clear vision to boost tourism in Himachal Pradesh and to create an environment conducive to the growth of the tourism industry by providing visitors with an unforgettable experience, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. He said that Rs 97 crore has been released for this and the state government would provide more funds if needed. Parking lots will also be ..

Mass movement to be launched against drug menace in Himachal: Dy CM

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Saturday said a mass movement will be launched in the state against the drug menace. Agnihotri said an 8-km long walk against the drug menace will be flagged off by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla from Haroli to Kangar in the Haroli Assembly constituency on June 27. He also called upon the political leaders not to interfere with cases related to drug smuggling and ensure that no political pressure is put on authorities to save the chitta' smugglers. Talking to the media persons here, he said that being a border district, Una is vulnerable to drug smuggling and therefore the walk is significant. The theme of the program is Walk for Life - an initiative against drug addiction, the deputy chief minister informed. Thousands of students, various institutions and people from different sections of society will be a part of this walk, he said. Several events like slogan writing, painting competitions and others will be organised befo

Centralised Cell to be set up for sale and purchase of power: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government would come up with a policy to attract private sector investment in the hydropower sector and a centralized cell will be set up for efficient management of sale and purchase of power to increase revenue, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. Hydropower development is the key engine to the economic growth of the State as it makes a direct and significant contribution to the economy in terms of revenue generation, employment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life, he said in a statement issued here. It also aims to harness and commission 10,000 MW of hydro and renewable energy by 2030 to have an operational capacity of around 21,000 MW. Sukhu said that apart from power generation, the government was laying special focus on its distribution and sale of electricity. The State Government is laying stress on prioritizing revenue generation for the Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (HPPTCL) through its ...

15,000 Apda Mitra, state volunteers to assist in emergency situation in HP

Over 15,000 'Apda Mitra' and state volunteers will assist in any emergency situation arising out of inclement weather in the state during the monsoon season, a senior Himachal Pradesh official said here on Wednesday. Presiding over a meeting on preparations for the impending monsoon season, Principal Secretary of the Revenue department Onkar Chand Sharma said it is an endeavour of the state government to ensure that not a single life is lost due to lack of preparedness. 'Apda Mitra' and other volunteers should be provided training and frequent workshops should be held, and there should be no delay in providing aid, grants and relief to the affected and needy people, he said. Sharma said those involved in disaster management and relief should make use of the 'Sachet' app, developed by the National Disaster Management Authority. The app provides quick weather-related alerts and issues do's and don'ts at the time of emergency at a particular place and time, officials said. In a state