Shimla: The Himachal cabinet late on Monday decided to enhance procurement prices of citrus fruits, agreed to set up a thermal plant, increased graduate and post graduate seats in the state medical colleges and also decided to fill up teaching cadre posts in them.
The State Cabinet today decided to enhance the procurement price of citrus fruits under Market Intervention Scheme by Re. 0.50 per kg. for implementation between the period from 20th November, 2008 to 14th February, 2009.
Also decided to procure ‘Fair Average Quality’ citrus fruits, Kinnow, Malta, Orange and Galgal at a rate of Rs. 5.85 and Rs. 5.25 per kg. for B and C Grade fruits respectively, and Galgal at Rs. 4.15 per kg., from the growers. HPMC and HIMFED would be the procurement agencies.
The Cabinet agreed for setting up of Thermal Power Plant, preferably based on Biomass, in the state for captive use purposes. The HP State Electricity Board shall be having the first right to purchase surplus power from such plants.
The cabinet deferred a decision about allotment of a major hydro project that has been allotted to Brakel Corporation but the government is reviewing its decision after a rival bidding company Reliance Energy took the matter to court.
Chief secretary Asha Swaroop disclosed that a decision whether to cancel allotment of the 960 MW hydro project on Satluj River handed out to Brakel Corporation or not was deferred at the cabinet meet. “More information has been demanded before the issue is again put up before the cabinet,” she said.
It decided to reserve 5 percent Class III and IV posts in various departments under Direct Recruitment Quota for the compassionate appointments.
It decided to amend the Recruitment Procedure and physical efficiency test for the recruitment of female constables in the Himachal Police, and further approved one time age relaxation to Home Guard Volunteers from 28 years to 33 years for filling up the backlog vacancies reserved for Home Guards of constable in the State Police.
It approved implementation of the ‘Group Superannuation Pension Scheme’ for the employees of HIMUDA through Life Insurance Corporation of India, to be made effective from 31st March, 2008.
It agreed to increase the MBBS seats in IGMC, Shimla, from existing 65 to 100 and also increased 9 seats in Post Graduate Courses.
It approved empanelment of 25 Article Assistants to speed up the disposal of audit work of various government departments.
It sanctioned 15 posts of various categories for making 50 bedded Civil Hospital, Tauni Devi in District Hamirpur, operational; 2 posts of Investigators in Economics and Statistics Department; 53 posts of different categories in the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board; 26 posts of various categories to strengthen the 100 bedded Civil Hospital, Paonta Sahib in district Sirmour with adequate operational manpower; 11 posts of various categories for making the State Level NREGA Cell functional.
It sanctioned 10 light motor vehicles, one motor boat and 6 motor cycles for enforcing mobility of the police personnel in carrying their law and order responsibilities more effectively.
It consented to grant one time relaxation in educational qualifications for appointment of Technical Assistants in Panchayati Raj Department.
It approved regularization of 15 contractual Computer Operators in Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Limited.
It decided to make 15 newly upgraded High Schools functional and sanctioned 60 posts of various categories.
It granted ex-post facto approval to extend the date of filing Annual Return by dealers for the year 2007-08 from 31st October, 2008 to 30th November, 2008 under the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Rule, 2005.
