Page 43 - Himachal Pradesh

Medical colleges in Himachal to get world-class facilities: CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said Himachal government is working towards providing world-class facilities in medical colleges in Shimla, Tanda, Nerchowk and Hamirpur. Sukhu said that the state government is working towards providing ample employment opportunities to doctors despite limited job opportunities in the government sector. Robotic surgery will be introduced in Shimla, Tanda, Nerchowk, and Hamirpur medical colleges and the latest PET scan and CT scan facilities would be provided in Shimla and Tanda Medical Colleges, he said. Sukhu directed the administration to identify land for constructing a sports ground and an additional hostel in Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College in Nerchowk in Mandi. Presiding over the first convocation ceremony of the medical college, he congratulated the newly passed-out doctors and presented internship certificates to the first batch of MBBS. He also urged doctors to keep pace with the rapid technological advanceme

Rajeev Bindal appointed Himachal BJP president, replacing Suresh Kashyap

The BJP on Sunday appointed its seasoned leader Rajeev Bindal as its Himachal Pradesh state unit president, replacing Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap. Bindal, who hails from Solan, has been a minister and assembly speaker and is seen as a solid and dynamic organisational leader. He headed the BJP state unit earlier as well. An MLA for several terms, Bindal lost the assembly poll this time with the party failing to open its account in Solan district. The BJP suffered defeat in the assembly polls in the state in November last year as the Congress came back to power. The party is now gearing up for the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls slated for May 2. In other appointments, the BJP has made Siddharthan and Pawan Rana as its general secretary (organisation) in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi units respectively. Both leaders will be swapping their places. Talking to reporters in Shimla, Kashyap said he had requested the party leadership to relieve him of the charge of Himachal Pradesh

HPPERC waives 50% fines levied against 4 pvt varsities, reveals RTI

The Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPERC) waived 50 per cent of the fine imposed against four private universities, the commission has revealed responding to an RTI application. The four universities were earlier punished with the fines for irregularities, malpractices, and not following the norms laid down by the HPPERC. In a complaint to the state Chief Minister, social activist Ajay Kumar alleged that imposing the fine was just a "publicity stunt," as the regulatory body had no intention to see through the reprimand, and rolled back its own order silently without informing anyone. Kumar said that the HPPERC Chairman had released a press statement about imposition of the fine and also uploaded the orders on the website of the commission. But when it came to the waiver, the commission implemented it without informing the complainant and also failed to upload the waiver decision on the commission website, he said. According to the ...

Himachal reports 103 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths; active tally at 1,719

A total of 1537 persons were tested for Covid 19 in the past 24 hours, officials informed

Himachal Pradesh to promote drone technology in a big way: CM Sukhu

Drone technology would be promoted in Himachal Pradesh for rapid growth and increasing efficiency of all sectors, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Wednesday as he underscored vital roles the unmanned aerial vehicle can perform ranging from health service delivery to crime control. Drones would be useful in reaching the remotest areas of the state given its difficult topography, he said. "This is one of the biggest reasons why they are more suited for hilly states like Himachal Pradesh," the chief minister said in a statement issued here. "Though the drone policy of the state was framed way back, much is to be done to fully adopt and give practical shape to it," he said, adding that rescue operations could be conducted more efficiently with the help of drones. The state government is also seriously considering how the services of various government departments could be expedited by adding modern technology, Sukhu said. "This will also benefit the people at large as the ...

Climate change impacting Himachal Pradesh's ecology too: President Murmu

The President said the climate of Himachal Pradesh attracts people from across the world, and this region of the Himalayas is rich in fauna and flora

Two-day G20 conference on energy transition begins in Himachal Pradesh

The two-day G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) conference on building a sustainable and eco-innovative energy transition system commenced at this Himachal Pradesh city on Wednesday. According to a statement, representatives of G20 countries, 27 foreign delegates and 35 experts from India along with delegates and invitees will participate in the meeting. The main theme of the RIIG conference during India's G20 presidency in 2023 is Research and Innovation for Equitable Society' with its four priority areas being Materials for Sustainable Energy, Circular bioeconomy, Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition and Scientific Challenges and Opportunities towards Achieving a Sustainable Blue Economy. The conferences on materials for sustainable energy and circular bioeconomy have already concluded at Ranchi, Jharkhand and Dibrugarh, the statement said. The areas of focus during the conference include challenges and opportunities in research and innovation, cooperation .

Himachal Power Board to spend Rs 156 cr to modernise electricity supply

The Himachal Pradesh Power Board on Wednesday said it will spend about Rs 156 crore to modernise and strengthen the electricity supply system in Hamirpur -- the home district of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. According to Rajesh Kumar, superintending engineer of HP Power Board, Hamirpur, an estimate of Rs 156 crore has been prepared for strengthening and modernisation of the power supply system in the district. The funds would be spent on the construction of new electrical sub-stations as well as modernisation of transformers and lines and many other works, he said, adding that once the modernisation plan is implemented, the district will stop facing any power supply related problems. He informed that a provision of Rs 5.54 crore has been made for a 33-KV power sub-station at Ukhli and Rs 7.87 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a 33-KV electric sub-station in Saloni. Similarly, a 33-KV sub-station will be constructed in Danddu at a cost of about Rs 8.80 ...

President Murmu in Himachal Pradesh, bats for promoting eco-tourism

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday asked people to cooperate in preserving the beauty of countless attractive and wonderful tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh and promote eco-tourism. Murmu is on a four-day visit to the hill state. From snow-clad mountains, circular valleys, gardens with blossoming flowers to forests with abundant flora and religious places, Himachal is bestowed with numerous places which attract tourists, the President said while speaking at the civic reception hosted in her honour at the Raj Bhavan here. Paying tributes to soldiers and freedom fighters from Himachal Pradesh, Murmu said the state is known as Vir Bhumi as the youth from almost every village have been rendering services in the armed forces. The contribution of Himachal Pradesh in the freedom movement has been scripted in golden words, she added. As the presidential candidate, I had come to Baddi, and earlier also I had visited the state and still remember the pleasure of simple and affection

HP CM directs to make Uhl-III hydro power project functional by May this yr

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday directed to make the 100 MW UhlIII hydropower project functional by May 2024 and instructed the officers to complete the tender process for setting up six green corridors by October this year. He said that charging station infrastructure would be set up for approximately 1,600 kilometres length of these corridors, which would also include the cities in the ambit of these stretches. Presiding over a meeting of the Energy Department here today, he also directed to replace the damaged penstock (a structure that controls water inflow) of the power project within eight months. The chief minister said that the commissioning of the project has already been delayed and the officers should work tirelessly to complete the project within the stipulated time. The state government would extend full cooperation for completing this project and he will personally visit the project site on June 15 this year to review the progress. Su

President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Shimla on her maiden 4-day visit to HP

President Droupadi Murmu arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit during which the 'Rashtrapati Niwas' in Mashobra, one of the presidential retreats, will be opened for the public. She landed at Kalyani Helipad at Chharabra and was accorded a guard of honour. The president was welcomed by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Education Minister Roihit Thakur and other dignitaries. During her stay here, Murmu will interact with trainees at the National Academy of Audit and Accounts and also grace the 26th Convocation of Himachal Pradesh University as chief guest on April 19. She will host an "at home" ceremony on April 20 and the 'Rashtrapati Niwas' would be opened to the public on the same day. She will also visit the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the president's visit and plying of vehicles on Kennedy Chowk and Boileauganj has been prohibited on April

HP Min urges Centre to include 9 state roads under 'Bharatmala Pariyojana'

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday urged the Centre to include nine roads spanning 1,254 kilometres under the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana', officials said. Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella programme for the highways sector that focuses on optimising efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of economic corridors, national corridor efficiency improvement and border connectivity roads, among other things. Singh met Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Delhi and submitted a list of the nine roads, including a 90 km stretch of NH-303 from Jawalamukhi to Jassur and 260 km road from Dhalli in Shimla to Tattapani to Ner Chowk and Dadour, which would provide alternate connectivity from Shimla to Mandi and Kullu, the officials said. The Public Works Department (PWD) minister said this would not only promote tourism but also ...

Himachal govt notifies implementation of old pension scheme from Apr 1

The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) would be restored from April 1, 2023 in Himachal Pradesh, benefitting 1.36 lakh employees who will no longer be required to faced deductions under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). A notification regarding implementation of the OPS was issued by the Chief Secretary on Monday. It said according to the cabinet decision for implementation of the old pension scheme, the contributions of the state government employees (employee's and employer's share) covered under the National Pension System shall be stopped with effect from April 1, 2023. Restoration of OPS was one of the main promises made by the Congress in the 2022 assembly polls and a decision in this regard was taken at the first meeting of the Cabinet on January 13, 2023. The decision would benefit both serving and retired employees and the employees with 20 years of service or more would get 50 per cent of basic salary and DA as pension. The OPS was stopped from January 2004 and the employees joini

Himachal becomes '1st state' to create DNA database of unidentified bodies

Himachal Pradesh has become the "first state" to create a DNA database of unidentified bodies, an official said Monday. The process was started in April last year and so far records of 150 DNA samples of unidentified bodies have been stored in the database, he said. The database would help in identification of bodies which would turn out to be a big relief for the families searching for their loved ones and running from pillar to post with photographs and other details, Assistant Director (DNA), Directorate of Forensics Services, Junga, Vivek Sahajpal told PTI. The DNA samples of the relatives would be matched with the data/samples stored in DNA profiling database and accurate details would be available within seconds, he said, adding that besides identification of bodies, the DNA database would go a long way in criminal investigation of heinous crimes, identification of disaster victims, missing persons and repeated offenders. According to the police record, more than 100 bodies a

No one thought India's reliance for medicines, vaccine will end: HP Guv

No one had ever thought that our dependence on foreign countries for medicines, vaccines would ever end, but it did, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla here on Saturday said. Shukla made the remark while inaugurating a mega eye test camp organised by 'Prayas' organisation under 'Jan Swasthya ke 5 saal-Har Ghar Dwar Asptal' campaign at DAV Centenary Public School in Una. He also lauded the 'Asptal-Sansad Swasthya Sewa' initiative of Union Minister Anurag Thakur started five years ago. Shukla said that today the country is self-reliant to the extent that it not only made the COVID-19 vaccine, but also set an example by making it available to other countries. He said that critical health infrastructure was being taken to smaller cities and towns under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The governor aid that the better results of the efforts made in the past years for preventive health & care were coming to the fore. On the occasion, he also interacted ..

Govt to extend 4G services upto Spiti Valley: Himachal Pradesh CM

"Emphasis would be laid on the maximum use of technology to strengthen the infrastructure in the region," Sukhu said

ITC to add 3 properties under Welcomhotel in MP, Himachal, Uttarakhand

ITC Hotel Group's upper upscale brand Welcomhotel is planning to add three more properties in Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Recently, ITC inked a deal to open 136-room Welcomhotel Gwalior, which is spread over 7 acres and slated to open by 2025, the hospitality company said in a statement. The firm will be opening a 46-key hotel in Manali in a few months, it added. The company will also open a hotel in Dehradun under a management contract with Unique Hotels and Restaurants. The existing property is in the process of being converted into a 78-key hotel. "The signing of more properties under the upper upscale Brand Welcomhotel is in line with ITC Hotels' expansion plan to take our brand and services to tier II markets in addition to prime metro cities," ITC Hotels Divisional Chief Executive Anil Chadha said.

Shimla civic polls: BJP releases list of 24 candidates, Cong names 9 more

The BJP on Wednesday released its first list of 24 candidates, which included 16 women, for the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls while the Congress named nine more nominees for the civic body elections slated to be held on May 2. BJP leader Ganseh Dutt, who is the president of the "Drishti Patra" committee for the polls said the party would fight the election on issues of drug-free Shimla, cleanliness and clean drinking water. He also said that suggestions are being sought from the people to finalise the party's vision document. The BJP's list of candidates included Saroj Thakur (Ruldu Bhatta), Sapna Kashyap (Annadale), Shelly Thakur (Summer Hill), Minakshi Goyal (Totu), Nirmala Chauhan (Majath), Kiran Bawa (Boileauganj), Alka Kanwar (Kachhi Ghati), Hema Kashyap (Nabha), Kalyan Dhiman (Phagli), Bittu Panna (Krishna Nagar), Bharti Sood (Lower Bazar), Anup Vaid (Benmore) and Satya Kaundal (Sanjauli Chowk). The other candidates are Kamlesh Mehta (Upper Dhalli), Seema (Lower ..

Campus Activewear acquires land, building from Marico Industries in HP

Sports and athleisure footwear company Campus Activewear on Wednesday said it has acquired land parcel and a building from FMCG major Marico Industries Ltd in Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. The all-cash deal was worth Rs 16.70 crore. The deal will help Campus Activewear to expand its capacity for the manufacturing of semi-finished goods (sole and /or upper) and assembly of footwear. This will be financed "partly through Term Loan and Internal Accruals," it said in a regulatory filing. This will help in "capacity expansion to meet business growth and increased backward integration". This capacity expansion would be done within one-and-a-half years from April 2023. In FY22, Campus Activewear's revenue was at Rs 1,194.18 crore.

Himachal govt constitutes committee to promote sustainable mobility

Himachal Government has constituted a green mobility committee to monitor and promote sustainable mobility solutions for decarbonising transport in Shimla, a state government spokesperson said here on Wednesday. The committee would develop a sustainable mobility plan with enhanced uptake of electric vehicles, which will support the de-carbonisation of Shimla city, the official said in a statement, adding that the principal secretary of transport would be its chairman. According to the statement issued here, the committee would have help in vision setting, serve as a forum for inter-department collaboration and facilitate buy-in from stakeholders. They would also support in organising workshops and capacity-building programs and help in defining the action plan with timelines besides merging the existing schemes to expedite the project execution, it added.