Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet today decided to issue notices to four companies for withdrawing licenses for setting up cement plants, approved issuing prospecting license to one company and announced providing unemployed allowances to the youth as committed in the election manifesto.
Presided over by chief minister Virbhadra Singh, the cabinet decided to issue notices to Harish Cements, Lafarge India Pvt Ltd, India Cements and Jai Prakash Associates for failing to set up cement plants despite the government having granted approvals many years ago.
The cement plants approved but have not come up are base on the Keran Limestone deposits, Tehsil Sundernagar, Distt Mandi of M/S. Harish Cements Ltd, Alsindi plant in Karsog Tehsil of Mandi district of M/S Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd, Gumma-Rohana plant, Tehsil Chopal in district Shimla of M/S The India Cement Ltd., Cement Plant (Unit-II) based on already leased out Baga Bhalag Limestone deposits in Teshsil Arki of Solan district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd., and Baroh-Shind plant in Tehsil Churah of Chamba district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd.
However the cabinet also decided to grant prospecting license to M/S Reliance Cement Company for setting up of a large cement plant based on Limestone, Shale and Quartzite in village Sugarthi, Thangar, Kura Khera, Pauli Kheram Kandal and Bedera in Chopal tehsil of Shimla district measuring 25 square kilometres (2500 hectares).
The cabinet accorded approval to give skill development allowance to eligible educated unemployed youth.
Under the scheme, provision has been made to provide skill development allowance to the youth aging between 25 to 35 years who have at least passed ten plus two.
The candidates will be given an allowance of Rs. 1000 per month whereas those eligible youth who are 50 percent or more handicapped will get Rs. 1500 per month.
Marriage grant to bonafide Himachali destitute/women was enhanced to Rs. 25,000 and the income limit eligibility was increased to Rs. 20,000 per annum under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana.
It also approved the revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners. The pension of pensioners and family pensioners of pre-2006 period will be further stepped up to 50 percent and 30 percent respectively of the minimum of the pay in the pay band and grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale.
Winter allowance was increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per month for employees in tribal and hard areas.
Financial assistance under Widow Re-marriage Scheme was increased from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 50,000/-
Cabinet gave its nod to upgrade Primary Health Centre Katola to Community Health Centre Katola in District Mandi.
It also accorded its approval to upgrade Community Health Centre Haroli to 50 bedded Civil Hospital in Una District.
Cabinet also gave its approval to create posts for the newly opened Primary Health Centre at Gulthani Jawaharnagar and Sub Tehsil Dhami in Shimla District.
The cabinet gave approval for extending Shahnahar project Division, Ghandran up to 31 December, 2013.
The cabinet gave consent for declaring one barrack each of Model Central Jail Nahan, Model Central Jail, Kanda, (Shimla), District Jail Chamba, Sub-Jail Mandi and Sub-Jail Solan as open jail.
Approval was given to amend recruitment and promotion rules of Child Development Project Officers in H.P Social Justice & Empowerment department and restore earlier provisions of 2007.
It also accorded approval for filling up of six posts of treasury officers in Treasury, Accounts and Lottery Department in the pay scale of 10,300-34800 and 5000 grade pay by direct recruitment through H.P Public Service Commission.
Approval was granted for creation of Cyber Treasury enabling online receipt of all kinds of government receipts in the department.
It was decided to fill up six posts of drivers through outsourcing in Water Supply and Sewerage Division, Shimla of Irrigation & Public Health Department.
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.
