Dharamshala: Having voraciously protested against illegally setting up of a cement plant as an opposition party, the Congress government here today approved expansion of the very same Jaypee Himachal Cement Plant at Baga in Solan district.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Viribhadra Singh at Dharamshala today.
“The expansion has been approved for enhancement of clinkerization capacity,” stated a cabinet spokesman.
Steep fall in electricity prices having rendered many hydropower projects as unviable, continue to deter private project developers from making any investments and have been surrendering sites allocated to them.
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet today cancelled 7 small hydro projects for failing to get work started on schedule. The projects cancelled are Ghagas (1MW), Anni-IV (2.50 MW), Najan (1 MW), Suhi (1.50 MW), Chachul (3 MW), Joiner Top-I (5 MW) and Sainj Bhagaru (0.80 MW) project.
However, the cabinet made a concession for the Chatarkhand (1.5 MW) Hydel Project in district Shimla by restoring the allocation to the entrepreneur after imposing a small amount of penalty fee for delaying the project. Nod for change of elevation and capacity enhancements to Chandernahan (4 MW) was also granted.
The cabinet approved the liquor policy for 2015-16 by deciding to allot by competitive tenders or draw of lots by invitation of application from the public for 2015-16 in respect of the retail/other liquor vends/units in L-2, L-14/ L-14A and L-20B and licences for the same be allotted by renewal/ continuation for 2015-16.
The cabinet approved three passenger ropeways proposed to be installed from Dharmshala to Mcleodganj, from Tourist Information Centre (TIC) Shimla to lift and to The Mall and from Chamunda Temple to Adi Himani Chamunda in Kangra. These are proposed to be established under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode, stated the cabinet spokesman.
The cabinet decided to constitute benches of HP Administrative Tribunal with two benches having one judicial and one administrative member, each having jurisdiction throughout the state.
A decision was taken to re-organize existing Gram Sabhas and not create new ones before general elections to Panchyati Raj Institutions are held. This would enable adequate funds to execute the development works rather than making expenditure on creation of new Gram Sabhas said the cabinet spokesman.
The cabinet permitted amendments in rules regarding Grant of Incentives, Concessions & Facilities to Industrial Units in Himachal Pradesh, 2004 as amended upto 7.2.2009.
A decision was taken to carry out amendment in the H.P. Village Common Lands Vesting and Utilization Act, 1974.
Approval was accorded to Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP) with certain guidelines as per TRP, 2014 of Govt. of India.
Approval was given to introduce Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, 2015.
Approval was accorded to declare Mangal panchayat of Kunihar block of district Solan as non-backward panchayat on the basis of survey pertaining to the status of backwardness and non-backwardness.
It was decided to construct additional accommodation and alteration of Circuit House, Hamirpur and to hand-over the same to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation to be run as a hotel.
It approved Himachal Pradesh Co-Operative Societies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. It also decided to include Deti and Majhara Community in the State List of OBC.
It also decided to procure salt under the state subsidy scheme by inviting global E-Tenders.
