HP cabinet nod to revive 700 stalled hydropower projects

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Thursday accepted the recommendations of revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi-led high-powered committee to assess and formulate a policy to revive nearly 700 stalled hydropower projects of up to 25 megawatts (MW), which have been showing no visible progress.The council of ministers, headed by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also decided to extend the special relief package to disaster-affected areas, including Samej and Rampur in Shimla district, Jaun-Bagipul and Nirmand in Kullu district, and Tikkam Thalu-Kot in Mandi district. Under this package, affected families will receive enhanced compensation of Rs 7 lakh — up from the previous amount of Rs 1.5 lakh — for their completely damaged houses. This compensation aligns with the relief measures provided to disaster-affected families last year.The cabinet also extended its gratitude to the people of the state and the Congress high command for their unwavering support in implementing various policies and programmes over the past two years. It was decided to regularise the services of nearly 928 part-time water carriers, who completed 11 years of daily and part-time services in the education department, as Class IV employees. Nod was also given to realign the age criteria for admission to nursery classes and Class-I with the National Education Policy, 2020. Besides this, approval was also given to enhance the tax on tobacco products carried by road from Rs 4.50 per kg to Rs 6.75 per kg.The council of ministers gave its nod for engaging 80 ‘Khanan Rakshak’ in the department of industries to check illegal mining, fixing the age limit between 20 and 30 years. It was decided to fill up 26 posts in the department of sainik welfare, 17 posts of Punjabi language teachers, and 14 posts of Urdu language teachers. Approval was given for engaging ‘guest teachers’ in the education department to fill gaps due to short-term vacancies in any institution to be paid on an hourly basis.The cabinet also approved the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee, led by industries minister Harshvardhan Chauhan, on the operation of home stays and decided to notify the HP Home Stays Rules, 2024. According to the new provisions, preference will be given to bonafide Himachalis, and the requirement to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the HP Pollution Control Board, local bodies, or any other department has been waived. However, proper sewerage systems and garbage disposal mechanisms will be mandatory, and the installation of rainwater harvesting systems will be encouraged in home stay units.The council of ministers also approved the Maharishi Valmiki Kaamgar Awas Yojna-2024, to offer financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to sanitation workers from the Valmiki community with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh for constructing houses. Approval was also granted to increase financial assistance for house construction under the Mukhyamantri Vishwa Avam Ekal Nari Awas Yojna-2023, raising the amount from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. The cabinet also allowed the bifurcation of the common cadre of nursing, paramedical, ministerial, and non-ministerial staff between the directorate of health services and the directorate of medical education, and now the employees will be given a 30-day window to select their preferred cadre.The cabinet gave its consent for the detailed project reports for constructing a 33-KV line, to be built within estimated cost of Rs 45.48 crore from Thirot to Killar, to supply reliable power in Pangi valley of Chamba district. Clearance was given to implement a standard operating procedure for the disposal of salvage trees across the state to ensure prompt removal and management of fallen or damaged trees lying along roadsides.The cabinet decided to open primary health centres at Kota Pab, Hallah, Thota Jakhal, Utrai, and Naya Panjore in Sirmaur district, along with the creation and filling up of requisite posts, and also to open a permanent police post at Sarchu under police station Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district.
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