Shimla: State cabinet today approved amendment to land record manual related to sale and purchase of land, decided to settle an liability bill of HP Financial Corporation, promulgated a new policy for organic produce, annulled an MoU for setting up two wineries, announced the market intervention scheme (MIS) for citrus fruits and introduced a new scheme for rural transport.
Providing details about the new organic policy, P Mitra, principal secretary agriculture said that it aimed at providing support services to farmers switching over to organic farming.
A provision for establishing a validation agency that would certify organic produce has been kept, he said.
Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu disclosed that the cabinet presided over by chief minister PK Dhumal approved the MIS scheme for citrus fruits.
To be implemented through 54 procurement centers, the rates of declared were 5.85 per Kg for Kinnow/Malta/Santra; Rs 5.25 per Kg for grade C Malt. Galgal would be bought from Rs 4.15 per Kg by the state agencies HPMC, HIMFED and HP Agro.
Revenue secretary Deepak Sanan said that the cabinet granted permission for recruiting 150 new patwaries even as it approved a revision of the provisions in the HP Land Record Manual for issuing computerized certificates for various requirements and also simplified the mutation procedures.
Under the new norms powers of Patwaries have been in undertaking the sale and mutation procedures stand extended to tehsil, sub-division level officers as well as the and deputy commissioner of the district.
“With the records being computerized and all concerned officers using the same data base, extending the mutation powers to higher level officers other than the patwaries without diluting the verification norms, would help the public from a lot of harassment,†said Sanan.
Cabinet approved amendments in fixation of circles rate for determining stamp duty and registration fee for sale and purchase of the land in the state.
“The deputy commissioner would fix the circle rate at the start of a financial year and to ensure transparency it would be available on the website,†said the revenue secretary.
Having failed to set up two wineries, the cabinet today approved cancellation of memorandum of understanding with Himachal Indage Ltd. The wineries were to come up at Nagwain in district Mandi and Pragati Nagar in district Shimla.
With problems coming up in meeting rural transport needs, the cabinet approved a new scheme under which private bus operators plying on routes not covered by Himachal Roadways bus service and carrying bus pass holding passengers would be eligible for financial incentives.
Nod was given to settle liabilities Rs 67.15 Cr by HP Financial Corporation with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) on payment of Rs 40 crore in 19 quarterly installments.
Faced with shortage of faculty in medical and dental colleges, the cabinet decided increase the retirement age for senior doctors from 58 to 62 years.
A bid by Ropeway and Resorts Limited, Kolkata, for execution of Palampur-Neugal Ropeway in district Kangra on BOT basis was approved.
Draft HP Disaster Management Rules, 2011 were approved.
Rain water harvesting structures in buildings where Town and Country Planning 1978 rules are applicable have been compulsory.
Approval was given to changes in elevation location of 17 Small Hydro Power Projects.
The Institute for Disabled Children at Sunder Nagar stand upgraded to plus two level.
Cabinet decided to open 5 polytechnics institutes in Sirmour, Bilaspur, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.
Amendment in HP Motor Vehicles Rules, 1999 was approved by incorporating a provision where no vehicle owner would be permitted to paint or exhibit any particulars or insignia other than the registration mark in the registration plates of their vehicle.
The cabinet decided to transfer ownership of PWD rest house in Hamirpur main bazar to the municipal committee.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
