HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that the Union Government has sanctioned a Bulk Drug Park for the State which would prove a boon to the states economy.

Making an appeal to the pharmacists to educate and counsel the patients, Thakur said that the Pharmacists played a crucial role during the corona pandemic; and after the doctor, it is the pharmacist on whom the patients have maximum faith.

The Chief Minister said that while virtually addressing the Yuva Vijay Sankalp rally organized at Mandi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had admired the states potential in pharmacy sector and said that Himachals identity as a world pharmacy would be strengthened with this Bulk Drug Park.

Realizing that people in India have been consuming inferior quality cinnamon (dalchini) having serious ill effects on Health, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) has, for the first time, begun organized cultivation of true variety of cinnamon plant in the country.

The cinnamon derived from Cinnamomum cassia (commonly sold in the market ) was used in large quantities while making cakes or pies . Even many people consume large quantities of dalchini for medicinal purposes which indirectly causes much harm than doing any good.

India imports 45,318 tonnes (worth Rs. 909 crores) of cinnamon annually from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal. Of the 45,318 tonnes of imports, astonishingly, India imports 37,166 tonnes of Cinnamomum cassia (species banned in several countries) from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

With the cultivation of Cinnamomum verum , HP has become the first state of India to have organized cultivation of cinnamon .

Bikram Thakur was speaking at the Mehatpur industrial area last night after launching public works estimated at Rs 1.6 crore. The works included the inauguration of a drinking water pump house, an overhead water storage tank, high mast lights and some other . He also laid the stone for the construction of a shopping complex in the industrial area on which Rs 19 lakh will be spent.

The minister said that during the first ground-breaking ceremony, Investment to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore was actually came, adding that in the second ceremony, MoUs for investment to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore were expected.

The has introduced the Rajiv GandhiSwarozgaar Yojana(RGSY-2023) with a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore from itsbudgetto promote self-EMPLOYMENT and Entrepreneurship among the youth ofHimachal Pradesh. The incentives offered apply to the green field (new) projects, while the assistance is limited to one person from each family that includes self, spouse, and minor children.

The Himachal Government is considering the inclusion of apple in mid-day meals in schools and anganwadis and in meals served to patients in hospitals. Mahender Singh, Minister, said, We are expecting a higher yield this time. The availability of this nutritious fruit will benefit both students and patients. We are also thinking of making the fruit available in small packing of 2-6 kg for sale at hotels. This will not only help the growers, but also benefit the tourists as they will get good quality fruit at reasonable prices. We will talk to the hoteliers in this regard soon.

Apple growers feel it is a good step, if it goes beyond a mere announcement. Lokender Bisht, president, Progressive Growers Association, said, Its a welcome move, but only if implemented. Apart from schools and hospitals, the government can also tie up with the Railways and hotels outside the state as well. Also, the plan will only look realistic when the modalities for Procurement and Distribution of the fruit are revealed.

The is pushing hard for cultivation and conservation of medicinal Plants. It has introduced several policies to encourage farmers to cultivate these plants and supplement their income. The State Medicinal Plants Board, functioning under the aegis of the Ayush Department, is also working to ensure easy availability of medicinal plants for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines.

According to a government spokesperson, the state government was providing financial assistance to farmers in different agro-climatic zones for cultivating medicinal plants under the National Ayush Mission. Various farmer clusters have been prepared for this purpose. To avail the financial assistance, a farmer cluster must cover at least two hectares. A cluster can comprise three adjoining villages within 15-km radius.

The state is providing financial assistance to farmers in different agro-climatic zones for cultivating medicinal plants under the National Ayush Mission.

Various farmer clusters have been prepared. To avail the assistance, a cluster must cover at least 2 hectares. A cluster can comprise 3 adjoining villages within 15-km radius.

Himachal Pradesh chief ministerSukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday raised the issue of handing over the Shanan project to the state with Union power minister R K Singh in New Delhi.

During his meeting with the Union minister, Sukhu informed him that the 99-year lease period of the Shanan project would expire in March next year as per the lease agreement and asked for issuing necessary directions to thePunjabgovernment for taking mandatory steps for handing over the project to the hill state before the expiry of the lease period. Sukhu also apprised the Union minister about the facts regarding the share of the state in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and sought 12% water royalty for his state. He said due to the construction of various projects by the BBMB, many townships were forced to rehabilitate and even after 50 years, a number of oustees were yet to get compensation.

The Central Government has enhanced the liquid Oxygen quota of Himachal from 15 metric tonnes (MT) to 30 MT following a request by the .

Inox Air Products, Barotiwala, will provide the additional supply to the state. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had requested the Union Government for more oxygen to the state in view of rising demand for medical oxygen following the spurt in Covid cases.

The state has six pressure swing adsorption Plants at Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Tanda, Chamba and Mandi. Eight private producers are also providing medical oxygen to the state. These manufacturers are Inox Air, Barotiwala; Himalaya Gases, Baddi; Indo Gases, Baddi; Mahalaxmi Oxy Plant, Mandi; Himalaya Oxygen, Sirmaur; JK Gases, Gagret; Mandav Air Agency, Mandi; and Mandav Air Agency, IGMC, Shimla.

To make Himachal Pradesh the First Green State by 2025 as well as a leading hydrogen-based economy, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed withHLC Green Energy LLCin Shimla.

Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhusaid that green hydrogen has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly; reducing fertilizer prices; and contributing to the nations economy through import substitution.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was already famous for green hydel energy and would now encourage new clean such as those based on ethanol, green hydrogen, green ammonia and solar energy projects.

The industries minister said that the company intends to produce 0.3 million metric tons (MMT) of green hydrogen and 1.5 million metric tons (MMT) of green ammonia per year.

The project the land requirement for which is around 20-25 acres is likely to be set up in Una and Kangra.

He said that the manufacturing facility has planned to bring in an of more than Rs 4,000 crore, besides generating direct and indirect EMPLOYMENT opportunities for about 2,500 persons.