Himachal Cabinet approves Amendment in Hydro-Power Policy

By: HP News Network

Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held here last evening decided to refund the Institutional/Court Fee under Section 42 of Himachal Pradesh Government Fee Act, and permit 100 percent reimbursement of the Court Fee in case of amicable settlement of cases in the Lok Adalats. The State Government shall be at liberty to enhance, reduce, remit or refund the fee.

Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister presided over the meeting.

The Cabinet also approved an Amendment in the Hydro-Power Policy and approved allotment of Hydro-Electric Power Projects upto 2 MW exclusively for Himachalis, give them preference in the projects having capacity between 3MW to 5 MW where the applicants are more than one. Additionally, preference shall be given to the applicants belonging to the district where the proposed project is located.

The Cabinet also decided to adopt new recruitment procedure for constables for creation of new battalion. The base of the recruitment will be population of the district. In case there is vacancy in the existing battalion, 50 percent weightage shall be given to the sanctioned posts of the district and remaining 50 percentage to the population of the concerned district while usual reservation roaster will be followed.

The Cabinet also approved the opening of 22 new Primary Health Centres and upgradation from Primary Health Centre to Community Health Centre at different places of the state besides sanctioning about 150 posts of different categories to man the institutions.

The Cabinet accorded approval for equity participation of the Government of Himachal Pradesh in the Solution Mining and Caustic Soda Products at Maigal, in Mandi district. The project is likely to cost Rs.270 crore with employment potential to 220 persons and shall be executed by the Hindustan Salt Mines Limited. The State Government shall be providing land measuring 105.06 bighas in lieu of 5 percent equity participation besides an amount of Rs.43.55 lakhs. If the land is not utilized for the specific purpose within the period of two years, the same shall get resumed with the State Government.

The Cabinet also approved relaxation in the Town and Country Planning norms for preparation of the maps to construct four storey parking lot near Municipal toilets at Chhota Shimla, parking place near Cancer Hospital, Cart Road, Shimla, another parking place near the Lift below Cart Road, besides construction of 3-storeyed parking and one storey for commercial use near the rain shelter of IGMC, Shimla.