HP cabinet hikes MSP for key crops, clears 1,500 govt posts

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Friday approved a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for key crops — wheat from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg, maize from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, barley (from Pangi Valley in Chamba) from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg, raw turmeric from Rs 90 to Rs 150 per kg, and ginger at Rs 30 per kg under natural farming.The cabinet, chaired by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also approved the creation and filling of 1,000 police constable posts and 500 assistant forest guard posts, with 50% quota for Van Mitras. It cleared the engagement of eight naib tehsildars, 20 kanungos and 44 patwaris from among retired revenue officials on fixed remuneration for the forest department, along with 10 legal consultants across its territorial circles. To address faculty shortages, retired teachers will be engaged as professors in new medical colleges across various specialities.The cabinet also decided to take the services of Param Vir Chakra awardee Honorary Captain Sanjay Kumar (retd) with effect from May 1 to encourage the youth of the hill state to join the Armed forces.For timely disbursal of social security pension to beneficiaries, the cabinet decided to amend Rules 10 (2) and (3) of the Himachal Pradesh Social Security (Pension/Allowance) Rules, 2010. The council of ministers approved allotting 71 small hydroelectric projects to the eligible independent power producers who fulfil the eligibility criteria as per Hydro Power Policy, 2006. Approval was also given to simplify the fire no objection certificate (NOC) process to make it more streamlined and citizen-friendly. The revised norms aim to promote ease of doing business while benefiting residential building owners and strengthening fire safety measures. It was also decided to reorganise the administrative set-up of divisions of Jal Shakti department in Sirmaur district on the basis of constituency to provide better facilities to the public. MSID:: 130330367 413 |