Page 39 - Himachal Pradesh

Rules to promote sustainability must for mitigating climate change: HP Guv

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday said stricter regulations to promote sustainable development and adoption of cleaner technologies are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Addressing the 'North Zone Environment Workshop' here, Shukla stressed the need for protected and balanced development for environment protection and asserted that India today emits fewer carbon emissions as compared to the Western countries. Today, the environment in Western countries is unbalanced and it is affecting the entire world. We need to preserve our green cover and adopt chemical-free agriculture while going back to coarse grains, a statement quoted Shukla as saying. He said due to rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, population growth and uncontrolled human activities in the northern region, the environmental balance is being affected in a big way and climate change has emerged as a matter of global concern which affects everyone. He said air pollution and water ..

Himachal Pradesh Governor voices anguish over Odisha train derailment

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic train collision in Odisha

Survey to be conducted for Dodra-Kwar, Kotkhai-Hatkoti tunnels: Himachal CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday said surveys would be conducted for the construction of Kotkhai-Hatkoti and Dodra-Kwar tunnels, which would go a long way in facilitating the people of these areas. Heavy snow at Kharapathar and Chanshal Pass blocked roads and these tunnels would provide all-weather connectivity to Rohru and Dodra Kwar areas. The CM said efforts would be made to connect Kwar with Uttarakhand. The CM announced the opening of Adarsh Health Institute in Rohru during his maiden visit to Rohru after assuming the office of the chief minister, a statement issued here said. Sukhu reiterated that the exploitation of apple orchardists by middlemen would not be tolerated. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made in the current budget for setting up 10 cold atmosphere (CA) stores in the state and tendering process is underway. He said measures are also being taken to ensure remunerative prices for rotten apples to the growers. Chief Parliament

Haryana has no right on river water from Himachal, says Sukhbir Badal

Badal also warned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann not to be caught napping on this most sensitive issue which concerned the lives and livelihoods of the farmers of Punjab

Himachal govt to give mustard oil at Rs 110 per litre via fair price shops

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to make mustard oil available at Rs 110 per litre under the public distribution system through fair price shops, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. He said that the beneficiaries would now get mustard oil cheaper by about Rs 37 per litre as compared to earlier rates. Before June 2023, the Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries were getting mustard oil at Rs 142 per litre and that those Above Poverty Line (APL) at Rs 147 per litre under the Antodaya Anna Yojana. The decision has been taken to provide relief to all the sections of the society, said the chief minister in a statement issued here. He said that the state government was taking welfare oriented decisions to benefit the people and was committed to ensure food security to people under the PDS. The state has 19,74,790 ration card holders who are being provided food grains at subsidised rates through 5,197 fair price shops, the chief minister said.

Himachal Pradesh taxes and excise department revenue registers 13% growth

The Himachal Pradesh tax department has collected Rs 1,004 crore in the current fiscal year till May 31 against Rs 890 crore collected during the corresponding period in the last financial year, registering a growth of 13 per cent, officials said. The department is continuously monitoring the speedy scrutiny of returns, timely completion of GST audits and capacity building of the tax officers to improve GST collection, said Yunus, commissioner, State Taxes and Excise, in a release issued here. The department has targeted verifications of 13 lakh e-way bills during the current financial year. The department officers in the first two months of the current financial year verified 1.85 lakh e-way bills and collected a penalty of Rs 92 lakh from violators, he said. He also informed that the department detected several non-existing registrations in the past few months. A two months long Pan-India special drive against fraudulent GST registration was initiated on May 15, 2023. The objecti

HP Minister Vikramaditya Singh urges Gadkari for speedy approval of NHs

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday and demanded Rs 500 crore from the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) to improve the road conditions in the hill state. Singh, the public works minister of Himachal Pradesh, requested the Union minister to declare nine roads in the state that have been accorded in-principle approval as national highways, besides including the proposal of the nine roads under the "Bharatmala Pariyojana", covering 1,254 kilometres in the state, according to a statement issued here. The Congress leader also requested Gadkari to pass an order for considering a proposal of the state to upgrade the Tikkar-Jarol-Gahan-Nankhadi-Khamadi road and build a 560-metre-long bridge over the Swan river in Una district under the CRIF. He said a sanction was awaited for a 153-km-long missing link from Bihru to Lathiani on NH 503A and requested the Union minister to expedite the .

Himachal collected Rs 1,004 cr tax in this fiscal till May 31: Official

Department of State Taxes in HP has collected Rs 1,004 cr in this fiscal till May 31 against Rs 890 crore collected during this period in the last fiscal, registering a growth of 13 per cent

Haryana CM Khattar to meet Himachal counterpart over water issues

This information was given at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister with administrative secretaries to review projects worth more than Rs 100 crore

Himachal CM seeks Rs 1,000 cr from Centre for greenfield Mandi airport

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Centre to grant Rs 1,000 crore for greenfield airport in Mandi district and Rs 400 crore for the expansion of Kangra airport. The chief minister called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Tuesday late evening and requested her for granting funds for airport projects as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, according to an official release. He requested the Union Minister to review the decision to impose a limit on new loans under externally aided projects and added that reconsidering this decision would help in development in various sectors, the release said. He sought intervention for expediting the signing of loan agreements of six proposals recommended by the Department of Economic Affairs for external funding. Keeping in view the importance of National security, the Chief Minister urged for declaring Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh rail project as 100 per cent centrally funded or explore a ..

Forest dept has prepared mapping system to control forest fires: HP CM

The Himachal Pradesh forests department has prepared a mapping system to control forest fires, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. He said maps have been prepared for sensitive forests, and places in these forests that are prone to fires have been marked and linked to areas from where the fires can be controlled. "Though it is not possible to control them entirely, the key is to stay alert," Sukhu said, adding that the department has also constituted a Rapid Fire Action Team. Wildfires are a natural occurrence but they have become more extreme and widespread in recent years and mass contact programmes can be a key achiever in controlling these fires to a large extent, the chief minister said in a statement here.

Himachal's Pong Dam to be developed as major tourist destination: CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state government has allotted Rs 70 crore to introduce water sports and other activities at the Pong Dam in Kangra district to create job opportunities and develop it as a major tourist destination. The government intends to develop the dam, which has been declared a Wetland of National Importance in November 2002, by creating added infrastructure and even starting Shikara' in the backwaters of the lake, a statement issued here said. Famous as an abode for migratory birds, particularly the Siberian cranes and hundreds of other species from Russia and trans-Antarctic regions, the Pong Dam is a manmade reservoir on the Beas River in the wetland of Shivalik hills of Kangra district. Stretched up to an area of 24,529 hectares with few habited islands, the reservoir caters to the needs of fishermen in a big way and is the most important source of economy to hundreds of families engaged in the business. The state .

HP CM seeks custody of first hydroelectric project, lease to expire in '24

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday called on Union Power Minister R.K. Singh here and informed him about the 99 years lease

Himachal CM Sukhu discusses water sharing issue with Kejriwal in Delhi

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi and discussed water sharing agreements of Renuka and Kishau hydro projects, an official statement said on Monday. In the Sunday evening meeting, various common issues between both states were discussed besides electric supply for the upcoming Bulk Drug Park in Una district with the support of Bhakra Beas Management Board, it said. Sukhu said that high-level discussions will be held for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Delhi and Himachal Pradesh governments regarding Yamuna River water sharing.

Himachal govt de-notifies 90 schools, cites admin reasons and low enrolment

The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday de-notified 90 government middle, high and senior secondary schools, citing administrative reasons and low enrolment. These include 20 middle schools with less than 15 students, 34 high schools with less than 20 students and 36 senior-secondary schools with less than 25 students, according to a notification issued here. Education Minister Rohit Thakur has maintained that a format would be followed for schools and colleges. Primary schools with less than 10 students, middle schools with less than 15 students, senior secondary schools with less than 25 students and colleges with less than 65 students will be shut down, he said. Earlier, 286 schools (primary and middle) with zero enrolments were de-notified. Opposition BJP leaders have protested the move, saying the Congress government was de-notifying government institutions opened for the welfare of the common people. The ruling party has maintained that hundreds of government institutions

HP CM urges Centre to return funds deposited for National Pension System

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday sought the Centre's directions to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to return Rs 9,242 crore deposited under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) by the state government. Sukhu, who attended the 8th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog in New Delhi, said there should be no limit on receiving external aid for the next three years and the Union government must approve proposals submitted to the Department of Economic Affairs. He also sought 100 per cent central funding for the strategic Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh Railway Line, saying the land acquisition cost that was borne by the state government should be considered as its contribution to the project. He also requested the Centre to include ropeway projects under the 'Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna', besides demanding special financial assistance for completing the construction of medical colleges in the state. Sukhu said his governme

CM Sukhu announces zoological park worth Rs 300 cr in Kangra district

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday announced a slew of development projects, including the setting up of a zoological park in Bankhandi area in Kangra district. Addressing a gathering at Haripur in Dehra assembly constituency, Sukhu said the park is estimated to cost Rs 300 crore, and will provide employment opportunities to 5,000 local youths. The project will be completed in three years, he said. The Chief Minister also said Rs 70 crore have been earmarked to promote adventure tourism at Pong Lake. The introduction of hot air balloon activities and the construction of a floating hotel have also been planned, he said. In a bid to create employment opportunities, the state government will also provide financial assistance to local youth to help them buy 'shikaras', Sukhu said. The Chief Minister also announced the operation of five new bus routes in the area and the construction of an indoor stadium with a swimming pool in the Dehra assembly ...

Water released from HP's Pandoh Dam after increase in level due to rain

Water is being released from Himachal Pradesh's Pandoh Dam after an increase in its level due to unseasonal rain, officials said on Friday, warning people not to go near the Beas river in Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra districts. The warning was issued by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and it has informed the administrations of the three districts about it, a spokesperson said here. The state received 92.1 mm rains in the month of May this year, an excess of 70 per cent, against the normal rainfall of 54.3 mm from May 1 to May 26, according to officials. Melting of snow has also contributed to increase in the water level in the dam. A study by the State Centre on Climate Change on variation in snow cover showed that in April 2023, the area under snow cover in the Beas basin was 39 per cent as compared to 51 percent in 2022. The study also said seasonal snow cover of Chenab, Beas, Ravi and Satluj River basins in Himachal Pradesh has declined by 10 per cent in 2022-23 compared

Himachal Pradesh govt abolishes non-practicing allowance for doctors

The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday announced that doctors recruited henceforth across departments, including Health and Family Welfare and Animal Husbandry, will not be entitled to Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA). The announcement drew a sharp reaction from medical and veterinary associations, who termed it "anti-people" and demanded that the notification be withdrawn. "The Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) will not be admissible to all doctors recruited henceforth in Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Dental, Ayush and Animal Husbandry departments of the state government," the official notification stated. The Himachal Medical Association described the decision as "anti-people". The duties of doctors are different from duties discharged by employees of other departments as they serve the patients by risking their own lives and had demonstrated their loyalty to the patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the association said in a statement issued here. The Himachal

Cong will implement Old Pension Scheme for Telangana govt employees: HP CM

The Congress would implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees in Telangana if it is elected to power in the state, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday. Addressing a party rally at Jadcherla near here, Sukhu said his government, taking a humanitarian approach, has brought 1.36 lakh government employees in the state under the OPS. He said Telangana Congress president A Revanth Reddy, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and AICC in-charge of party affairs in the state Manikrao Thakre told him that the OPS would be implemented in Telangana once it comes to power. "By speaking to them now, I came to know that the way we implemented OPS in Himachal Pradesh, we will, in time to come, Telangana government will implement OPS for State government employees and officers," he said. Observing that lakhs of people in the country are getting work under the MNREGA, he alleged that the BJP government always tried t