Page 47 - Himachal Pradesh

Plantation on degraded land to be taken up on large scale: Himachal CM

The Himachal Pradesh government has started an initiative to restore degraded forest landscapes for which the forest department has identified more than 256 hectares of barren forest land in all 12 districts, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. He was presiding over the first meeting of the governing body of the Himachal Pradesh State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (HP CAMPA). "Instead of raising plantations in a sporadic manner, it should be done in a planned manner on the barren hills and other large open patches in a phased manner in the entire state," he said in the meeting. Sukhu said the plantation should be done keeping in mind the suitable climatic conditions. The forest department has identified such areas in all the 12 districts of the state covering more than 256 hectares of barren forest land along with a five-year maintenance period with a proposed outlay of around Rs. 8.83 crores, he said. A dedicated staff would

Himachal Pradesh government dissolves state staff selection commission

The Congress government on Tuesday disbanded the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission whose functioning was suspended after a paper leak was detected in December last year. The reports of departmental inquiry and vigilance bureau pointed out irregularities and papers were being leaked and sold to selective people for the past three years following which the state government has decided to dissolve the commission with immediate effect, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He said complaints were also received regarding the papers held recently by the HPSSC, headquartered in Hamirpur. The ongoing recruitment process from HPSSC has been transferred to Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC), Shimla, for the convenience of candidates till further alternative arrangements are made or a testing agency is constituted, he said while interacting with media persons. All examinations would be conducted by HPPSC, he said and added that the employees of the Staff Select

Earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hits Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala: NCS

On the same day, an earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale also struck Madhya Pradesh

Adani Cement's ACC and Ambuja to resume Himachal Pradesh operations

India's Adani Cement, part of the embattled Adani Group of companies, said its ACC and Ambuja Cements businesses will resume operations at two plants in the Himachal Pradesh

Ambuja Cements, ACC to restart operations at 2 plants in Himachal Pradesh

The Darlaghat plant of Ambuja Cements has a capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum while that of ACC's Gagal produces 5.5 mtpa

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Drone technology to ease surveillance and monitoring: Himachal CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government intends to use drone technology to supervise various state schemes, traffic management, rescue of stranded trekkers, monitor forests and wildlife, and surveillance of illegal mining, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. He said there was a dire need to seriously consider how the services of various government departments could be expedited by adding modern technology. This will also benefit the people at large as the technology will also play a pivotal role in health and other sectors. Drones can also be used to spread micronutrients in the agriculture sector, a statement quoted Sukhu as saying.

Will provide assistance to police department for modernisation: HP CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said his government is committed to modernise the state police as latest technology is pivotal to tackling new crime patterns. Sukhu launched the 'Him Vic' (vigilance investigation checklists) application, which offers a comprehensive mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability, officials said. Speaking on the occasion, Sukhu said, the state government will provide all possible assistance to the police department for its modernisation. In the era of technology and digitisation, new crime patterns are emerging and to respond to these challenges, use of modern technology is required, Sukhu said. The state government is committed to provide corruption-free governance and has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, said Sukhu. He reiterated that his government would ensure the maximum use of 5G and other cutting edge technologies to provide quick service to the people of the state. The state government is working on revamp

Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approves scheme for orphans, destitute women

The orphan children, referred to as 'Children of the State', will be adopted by the government

About 178 km four-laning projects to be constructed for Rs 4,700 crore: CM

About 178 kilometers of four-laning projects would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 4,700 crores, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday. Reviewing various National Highways projects with the senior officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Public Works Department here, he stressed on the earlier disbursement of the land acquisition compensation cases and directed the concerned authorities for settlement of all the compensation cases at the earliest to avoid inconvenience to the people. The widening of four lane from Nalagarh to Swarghat road with an outlay of Rs 600 crore, widening of four lane from Kala Amb-Paonta Sahib-Dehradun with an estimated cost of Rs 1200 crore, widening of four lane from Amb to Una and Punjab Border to Nadaun on NH-03 with an outlay of Rs 1500 crore and construction of Una bypass with an estimated outlay of Rs 500 crore have been approved, a statement said. Sukhu said that with an estimated cost of Rs 900 crore

Himachal government plans to set up various solar projects through PPP mode

The Himachal Pradesh government plans to set up various solar projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will provide clean power to consumers at cheaper rates and help in reducing carbon footprints, an official statement said on Wednesday. Big private players and major Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the country have assured to invest in the state in this vital sector. According to the statement, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) is coming up with five solar power projects (SPPs), in Himachal Pradesh. Thaplan solar power project of 112.5 MW is being set up in district Una. In addition to this, 20 MW SPP Bhanjal and Kadh in Una district, 20 MW in Fatehpur in Kangra district, 30 MW SPP Kolar in Sirmaur district and 12.5 MW in Rajgir in district Kangra are in pre-construction stage. To envision the concept of green Himachal, the government has promised to extend all possible support to the executing agency for setting up these projects and take necessary

Issue of FCA, FRA clearances to be taken up with Union govt: Himachal CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said his government would take up with the Centre the issue of delay in obtaining Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and Forests Rights Act( FRA) clearances so that developmental projects in the state do not get delayed. Presiding over a forest department meeting here on Tuesday, he said the state government is committed to maintain a balance between development and environment. But development projects of utmost importance like heliports, electric vehicle charging stations and day-boarding schools are affected by the delay in getting FCA and FRA approvals, a statement issued here said. Directing the forest officers to expedite FCA and FRA cases, he said officers will also be held accountable for delays. Earlier, presiding over the 11th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Board for Wildlife, Sukhu urged the department to explore tourism potential of activities like water sports and hot air balloon operations in Pong Dam

Allocate special budget for boosting tourist places in Shimla: Tourism body

There is an urgent need to allocate a special budget for improving the existing tourist places in and around Shimla, the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association (TISHA) said in a release here today."The stay of tourists in Shimla has decreased to one day. The decrease in stay of tourists and steep fall in inflow of the tourists in Shimla is a matter of great concern, " TISHA President Mohinder Seth said in a release."There is an urgent need to allocate a special budget for improving the existing tourist places in & around Shimla, to create wayside amenities on the highways and for publicity of tourist activities available in and around every tourist destination of Himachal," he said in the release.The existing places of tourist interest in Shimla are very old and require additional tourist attractions and activities to hold the tourist in Shimla for additional two to three days, the release said."Creation of parkings exclusively for tourists in every cluster of hotels. The ...

216 roads including 3 National Highways closed due to snowfall in Himachal

A total of 216 roads including three National Highways have been closed due to snowfall in Himachal Pradesh

216 roads closed after fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh

The higher reaches of Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Shimla districts experienced another spell of snowfall on Saturday while light rains lashed mid and low hills. As many as 216 roads including three national highways have been blocked due to snow. A maximum of 119 roads are closed in Lahaul and Spiti, 31 in Kinnaur, 19 in Chamba, nine in Kullu, six in Mandi, two in Kangra and one in Shimla district. According to the meteorological (MeT) department, Kothi received 20 cm of snow, followed by Kalpa 17 cm, Gondla 13.5 cm, Kukumseri 5 cm while Kufri in the suburbs of state capital Shimla received traces of snow. About 325 transformers and 10 water schemes were disrupted in the state as per the state emergency operation centre. Shimla town witnessed hail storm. The district administration of Lahaul and Spiti has advised the tourists and residents to avoid unnecessary travel in case of snowfall and informed that Manali-Leh National Highway (NH-03) has been blocked due to ...

ADB approves USD 130 million loan for promoting horticulture in HP

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 130 million (over Rs 1,072 crore) loan to increase agricultural productivity and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers' income in Himachal Pradesh. More than half of Himachal Pradesh's land area is in the mountains and 90 per cent of the population lives in rural areas who are dependent on agriculture, said ADB Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist for South Asia Sunae Kim. "Improving subtropical horticulture in the state offers a lot of economic opportunities to farmer households. Supporting horticulture value chains will also boost the subsector's contribution to the country's development and food security," Kim said. The Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project will help increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at least 15,000 farm households in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una. The project will improve

Himachal Excise, Taxation Dept inspects stocks of Adani Wilmar at Parwanoo

The Parwanoo South Zone Enforcement wing of Himachal Excise and Taxation Department inspected stocks of Adani Wilmar Ltd at Parwanoo late Wednesday evening. It was a routine inspection of stock, officials of the excise and tax department told the PTI on Thursday. The company, engaged in warehousing of Kirana (grocery items), also provides goods to the civil supplies department and police department in the state. It has recorded a business of Rs 135 crore last year. The company's entire GST input was adjusted through tax credit but no payment was made in cash, the excise department has said. Seven companies of the Adani Group are doing business in the state.

Adani Wilmar denies 'raid', says no irregularities found at Himachal store

Adani Wilmar has issued a statement saying that it was a routine inspection by relevant authorities and not a raid

Adani Wilmar's Solan facility raided for alleged GST violations: Report

Adani Wilmar had failed to deposit GST collection for "several years" and this reportedly led to the inspection

Himachal CM Sukhu meets Nitin Gadkari, discusses ongoing NHAI projects

Chief Minister Sukhu said, 'I have urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for construction of flyovers to ease traffic congestion besides reducing distance and saving commuters time'