The Himachal cabinet on Saturday cleared 256 small hydro projects, approved the market intervention procurement rates for quality mango fruits, approved giving Himachali domicile certification for a 15 year permanent resident, gave its nod for constitution of a water management board and approved the Kasauli development plan.
Presided over by chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal the cabinet decided to grant domicile Himachali Certificate to the person who are living permanently in the State for the past minimum period of 15 years by restoring the position, which was in practice prior to November 11, 2004.
272 Small hydro projects cleared
The cabinet cleared 256 self identified hydro electric projects for Himachal resident entrepreneurs that have a generation potential capacity ranging upto 5 MW. The combined capacity of hydropower generation potential these projects would add is estimated at 431 MW, a cabinet spokesman said.
Another 16 projects with an aggregated potential of 67.10 MW capacity for non-Himachali residents have also been approved for allotment.
Procurement prices for Mangoes fixed
The market intervention scheme 2009 for mangoes was approved in which procurement priced of seedling mango was fixed at Rs 4.58 per Kg and that of grafted mango at Rs 5.25 per Kg.
The scheme will be implemented in the State with effect from July 1, 2009 to August 15. 2009 and procurement agencies for the operation would be HPMC, HIMFED and HP Agro Industries Corporation.
34 mango fruit procurement collection centres will be set up leaving option open for opening more centres on need basis.
To facilitate industrialists in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, a separate revenue district in Baddi was created by the Himachal cabinet.
Approval for regularizing services of employees who had completed 8 years of service by March, 2008 was granted.
To manage, develop and distribute water resources the cabinet approved constituting a Himachal Pradesh State Water Management Board to be headed by the chief minister as its chairman.
A ‘Prashashan Janta Ke Dwar’ programme in each district, is to be re-started.
It approved Solar Passive Building Design Regulation for inclusion in the Integrated Development Scheme of Town and Country Planning Act, 1978, to motivate people incorporate solar passive designs into their building plans to save and conserve energy.
Greater Kasauli Area Development Plan Approved
The cabinet approved Kasauli Area Development Scheme for planned and systematic development of the area for future implementation.
The New Plan shall maintain the premier character of Kasauli, as a major tourist destination and sustainable habitat of local population.
The Development Plan has been prepared for the revised Planning Area, known as Greater Kasauli Planning Area.
It envisages upgradation of Parwanoo-Kasauli-Garkhal-Dharampur road to act as Circular Road besides constructing Garkhal Bye-Pass, Bus Stand, parking lot near Garkhal Bazaar Chowk, a petrol pump, Community Hall and Stadium have also been proposed.
It approved deployment of 23 surplus employees of the Agro Industries Packaging India Limited on secondment basis in the Department of Technical Education initially for a period of one year. Sanctioned 5 posts of Offset Printers for the HP Government Printing Press, Shimla
It consented to lease additional 3-18 bighas of land for 40 years to construct 3 MW HEP to M/S Mangalam Energy Development Company Private Limited at the rate of rupees one lakh per bigha as one time lease money whereafter a token monthly lease money of Re. 1.00 shall be payable.
It granted permission to set up stone crusher unit to M/S Longjian Road and Bridge Limited Company executing road widening project of Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru near Chhaila in tehsil Theog, district Shimla in relaxation of the norms fixed by the State Government for project specific use only.
Cabinet also reviewed all its decisions taken in the earlier meetings and took stock of the implementation by different departments. All departments have been directed to implement the same in letter and spirit in a time bound manner.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
