Page 37 - Himachal Pradesh

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

HP CM announces Rs 20 lakh education loan for underprivileged students

The students, up to the age of 28 years, will be eligible to apply for the loan at a nominal interest rate of one per cent under the Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojna

Sukhu flags off 20 new e-buses of HRTC, to replace 1,500 buses in phases

The capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla now has 20 more electronic buses. With this, the total number of e-buses operational in the city has gone up to 70

HP cabinet nods to land acquisition for Kangra Airport's expansion

In the meeting, Cabinet also decided to open Government Degree College, Tauni Devi in the Hamirpur district

Himachal gives nod to land acquisition for expanding Gaggal airport

Himachal Cabinet led by CM Sukhu decided to go ahead with the land acquisition process for the expansion of the Gaggal airport in Kangra to boost the tourist traffic

Rs 250 cr milk plant to be set up in collaboration with NDDB: Himachal CM

The State government will collaborate with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to set up a state-of-the-art milk processing plant at Dagwar

Himachal partners with NDDB to set up state-of-the-art milk processing unit

The Chief Minister said the capacity of the plant in Dagwar would range from one lakh to three lakh litres in which high quality products of milk would also be prepared

Rain, thunderstorm likely in Himachal Pradesh in 4 days, says IMD

Amid heavy rainfall during the onset of the monsoon, the IMD has issued a rain alert for Himachal Pradesh over the next week. A thunderstorm warning has been issued for June 22 and June 23

Registration of migrant workers, vendors, hawkers mandatory in Hamirpur

The registration of migrant workers, street vendors, hawkers and other outsiders temporarily living in different areas of this Himachal Pradesh district has been made mandatory to maintain law and order, an official said on Sunday. Issuing an order in this regard, the District Magistrate (DM) Hemraj Bairwa said a large number of labourers, street vendors and hawkers and other people from outside states come to work in the district and they often live in rented houses or at various construction sites. The orders have been issued to prevent any kind of untoward incidents in the district and to maintain law and order, he said adding that police often find it difficult to investigate cases involving outsiders as their details are not available and therefore registration is important. The DM has also ordered all the contractors and businessmen to get all their workers registered at their nearest police station. The locals have also been instructed to ensure the identity and registration

Freak weather, hailstorms may impact flavour, quantities of Himachal apples

Himachal Pradesh may witness a 30-35 per cent decline in the apple crop besides flavour deterioration this year owing to freak weather conditions, say horticulture experts

HP BJP stages protest at Kangra demanding fair probe in Chamba murder case

BJP staged a protest at Kangra district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh against the state government demanding a fair investigation in the brutal murder case of a 21-year-old boy in Chamba