Page 48 - Himachal Pradesh

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'

HP govt made budgetary provisions before restoring Old Pension Scheme: CM

The Himachal Pradesh government made the necessary budgetary provisions before announcing restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. The Himachal Cabinet approved restoration of the scheme during its first meeting after careful deliberations, he said in a statement. All other promises guaranteed by the Congress in its 'Pratigya Patra' ahead of the assembly elections will be fulfilled in a phased manner after making adequate financial provisions. The chief minister also hit out at the previous BJP dispensation for allegedly failing to clear arrears of employees despite announcing implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations. The haphazard decisions taken by the BJP government were unwanted and uncalled for, he said. Apart from a whopping loan amount of Rs 75,000 crore, the BJP has left Rs 11,000 crore as outstanding arrears to be paid to government employees and pensioners. The BJP regime handed over an empty coffer to the

World Bank keen on Rs 2,500-cr green resilient programme for Himachal: CM

Most departments will switch over to EVs by next year in the first phase, says CM Sukhu

Avalanche kills 2 BRO labourers, 1 missing in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul

Two labourers of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were killed while another is missing after an avalanche hit them near Chika in the Lahaul subdivision of Lahaul-Spiti district on Sunday evening.

First Budget of Congress govt will be people-centric, says HP CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday in Nadaun said that the first budget of his government will be "people-centric" and the change will be for all to see in a year. The government was maintaining financial discipline considering the overall fiscal position of the state and few stringent decisions will have to be taken to bring it back on track, he said. "Wait for one year, you will find change in the system," Sukhu said addressing people in his home constituency, which he reached five hours ahead of the schedule. The Chief Minister said the government was committed to work for the welfare of every last man in the state. He assured the people that there won't be a dearth of funds for the construction of Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College in Hamirpur and it will be equipped with the latest technology to become the model health institution from the state. The government will open a nursing college in the premises of the medical college, he added. Earlier i

BJP will fight Congress' Tughlaqi decrees through campaign: Jai Ram Thakur

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that the BJP will fight hard against the state Congress government's "Tughlaqi" orders of closing down of several institutions started under his dispensation. A continuous process of closure of hundreds of institutions opened by the previous BJP government for "public welfare" is underway and the BJP will restore these institutions with the help of the public through a signature campaign, he asserted. Addressing the State Working Committee, he said that BJP lost the previous state election by a margin of 0.9 per cent, and that this was the first ever time in the state's history that a government was formed on the back of such a slim margin. "It will not last long." Highlighting the previous BJP governments works, he said they were successful in getting the state a Bulk Pharma park, a medical device park, AIIMS, medical colleges, and also managed to construct 5,000 km of roads. He said that

Himachal BJP lauds Modi as 'world leader' in working committee resolution

The BJP state working committee in Una on Sunday approved a party resolution in which it hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'world leader' and said that the ancient Indian precept of 'One Earth, One Family' is nearing its realisation under his leadership. The resolution said: "This proposal is coming up in the State Working Committee of Himachal Pradesh at a time when India is presiding over the G-20 summit. India is proud to be the host country." It said that by presiding over the G-20 meeting in India, India will work to promote the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. The resolution, moved by former state president Dr Rajeev Bindal and approved by all, said, "Today we have the means to produce enough, to meet the basic needs of all people in the world." The State Working Committee congratulated Jagat Prakash Nadda on the extension of his term as National President of the BJP, and said that it was a matter of pride that the national president of the world's biggest political .

Bridge collapses after landslide in Himachal's Chamba, traffic halted

According to State Emergency Operation Centre officials, the incident took place at Loona area of Bharmour village in the outskirts of Chamba district

Environmentalists concerned over reducing snow cover, rising temp in Shimla

Harsh winters with heavy snowfalls beginning in December itself, covering Shimla in a white mantle of snow till March-end or even early April have become a thing of the past now. The Himachal Pradesh capital, which used to be draped in white and attract tourists from all over, now mostly presents a brownish look with dry grass covering the hills. There is growing concern among environmentalists and locals over the rising temperatures and depleting snow cover that the snow line is moving upwards and the "Queen of Hills" gradually losing her winter charm. Its effect now is more visible than ever in the hill city's dwindling winter tourist inflow and drying water sources. According to climate experts, the snow line is receding and Shimla's adjoining tourist towns Kufri and Narkanda, popular skiing destinations, too are experiencing scanty snowfall. The state capital's tourism industry is taking a hit due to the falling numbers and there is a dire need to find more tourist spots and ..

Himachal's industry dept to hold talks with Adani to end cement impasse: CM

The Himachal Pradesh government is all set to end the impasse created by the closure of two cement factories and indefinite strike by truck operators union and the industries minister will hold talks with the Adani group to resolve the issue, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. Talking to reporters at the NIT helipad here, Sukhu, who is on a three days tour of his home district Hamirpur, said the transporters' union representing truckers engaged by the two Adani group-owned cement plants in Bilaspur and Solan districts have proposed their rates and concerned officers have been directed to fix a meeting with the factory management. Two cement plants at Barmana (Bilaspur district) and Darlaghat (Solan district) owned by ACC Limited and Ambuja Cements, respectively, have been closed since December 14 due to a dispute over freight charges. Taking a dig at BJP leaders, especially former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on the issue of granting old pension scheme to the .