HIMACHAL PRADESH

Cess on water used in power projects

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TheHimachalPradesh government will now charge tax on water used in power projects set up in the state. To increase revenue, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government has imposed water cess on power projects by bringing in an ordinance. According to sources, the intends to collect revenue of over Rs 1,000 crore through this water cess.

Through a gazette notification published on Friday the governor, in exercise of powers vested in him under Section 17(1) of theHimachal Pradesh Water CessonHydro Power Generation Ordinance, 2023 (Ordinance No. 2 of 2023), has ordered the imposition of water cess on all Hydro Power projects in the state.

There are more than 50 power projects in Himachal and work is going on on more than 30. This tax will be applicable on all these projects. Total identified hydro power potential of the state is around 27,436 MW and harnessable power potential is 23,750 MW, out of which, 10,781.88 MW has been harnessed while over 12,000 MW power is yet to be done.

HPMC, HIMFED barter farm items for C grade apple

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The barter system may have gone out of vogue long back, but government agencies such as the HPMC and HIMFED are keeping the old method of exchange alive in Himachal Pradesh.

In lieu of the full or partial payment for C grade apple procured through the market intervention scheme, these agencies offer agricultural tools, fertiliser, crates, baskets, TSO oil, juice and jam to the farmers. Generally, these agencies make payments very late, more than a year later. As a result, many farmers opt to buy some tools or horticultural products that these agencies offer, rather than waiting for the payment.

In a bid to tap the ecotourism potential in the hill state, Himachal Government has swung into action to prepare a comprehensive ecotourism development plan.

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The plan is being prepared following the directions of the Central Government.

The comprehensive plan will identify existing ecotourism sites and those sites which are ideal for developing ecotourism activities like trekking, rock climbing, forest trails, nature walks, angling, camping, bird watching among others.

About the proposed ecotourism plan, Sharma said that the composite plan will reflect HPs ecotourism potential, tentative sites on private and government land for sustainable practices and potential ecotourism development and its operationalizing procedure.

Bestowed with natural grandeur of snow capped Mountains, lush green valleys and picturesque locations, Himachal has immense ecotourism potential. The had earlier released its revised eco-tourism policy 2016 aimed at bringing the wilderness and virgin Ecosystems of Himachal closer to visitors and ensure adequate safeguards for the protection and conservation of Resources“>Natural Resources.

The policy aims at making the hill state a leading eco-tourism destination with eco-tourism activities attracting atleast 10 percent of overall tourists visiting Himachal by the year 2030.

In the past, the government had also identified 113 sites to be developed as ecotourism sites in the state.

Will promote horticulture for self-reliance: Minister

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Revenue and Minister Jagat Singh Negi inspected the Tissue Culture lab at Dadhol in Bilaspur district. He said the government would encourage horticulture in Shivalik region of the state to improve the economy of farmers.

He said the State Government would examine the Himachal Pradesh Sub-Tropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition (HP SHIVA) project, envisaged to improve quality and quantity of horticulture produce in the lower districts. He added that the government would promote scientific ways of horticulture to make people self-reliant.

The Horticulture Minister said one of the objectives of the project was to involve youth and Women in horticulture. The government would provide all possible help, including financial assistance, for the development of new orchards in the region.

Himachal: Revenue receipts decreased by Rs 204 crore in 2019-20, CAG report shows

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Himachal Pradesh witnessed a decrease of Rs 204.94 crore in in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India stated.

The CAG of India in its report, tabled by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in the state Assembly on the last day of the winter session at Tapovan in Dharamshala on Wednesday, said the total revenue receipts of the government for the year 2019-20 stood at Rs 30,745.36 crore as compared to Rs 30,950.28 crore during the previous year.

There was a decrease in revenue receipts over the previous year by Rs 204.92 crore.

The maturity profile of outstanding stock of Public Debt and interest of Rs 62,234 crore (principal Rs 40,572 crore and interest Rs 21,662 crore) as on March 31 2020 indicates that the annual outgo in the shape of public debt repayment and interest will be about Rs 6,207 crore during the next five years up to 2024-25, it added.

The CAG further stated the financial liability of the state increased 14.57 per cent during 2019-20 to Rs 62,212 crore. The internal debt of the government increased to Rs 39,528 crore (11.78 per cent) during 2019-20 from Rs 35,363 crore in 2018-19.

During 2019-20, the total expenditure (Rs 36,362 crore) of the state increased by Rs 1,869 crore (5.42 per cent) over the year 2018-19, it added.

The state had a negative Growth (minus 0.67 per cent) in revenue receipts during 2019-20 over the previous year, which was a significant reduction from 2015-16 (31.37 per cent).

Out of the total revenue receipts of Rs 30,745.36 crore, 33 per cent was raised through tax revenue and non-tax revenue avenues. The balance 67 per cent was received from the Government of India as the states share of divisible Union taxes (Rs 4,677.56 crore and grants-in-aid Rs 15 939.52 crore).

Shimla gets waste-to-energy plant

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Shimla has joined the league of cities having a waste-to-energy plant.

In the pipeline for many years now, the plant located on the outskirts of the city has started generating power from the garbage.

The project coordinator said that the plant would start transmitting power to the nearby electricity grid.

He said that theres a power purchase agreement in place with the Electricity Department. The department will purchase power at over Rs 7 per unit.

Himachal Pradesh notice to NHAI for dumping debris along Beas

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Taking a stern note of dumping of debris by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) along the Beas, the HP Forest Department has directed it to take corrective measures.

Earlier in August, the department had imposed a fine of Rs 1.15 crore on the NHAI for violations during the construction of the 40-km-long two-lane highway between Ramshila (Kullu) and Manali and 10-km-long four-lane highway between Jia (Bhuntar) and Ramshila.

Chauhan said dumping sites provided to the National Highways Authority of India were largely found vacant and it was found that its contractors had dumped the debris at many places along the Beas, ruining the ECOLOGY of the region.

Himachal Pradesh will have 6 paramilitary force units

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State chief electoral officer C Palrasu while addressing a press conference in Shimla on Thursday, said the has geared up to conduct free and fair byelections on four seats of Himachal Pradesh on October 30.

If Covid protocols are violated during the election campaign a case might be registered against the leaders.

Along with this, on the lines of West Bengal and Assam assembly Elections, campaigning of leaders can also be banned if there is a rise in Covid cases. Voting arrangements have also been made for Covid positive people. Such people will be given a separate voting time of one hour under the Covid-19 protocol.

Over 15 lakh people will vote for byelections. Six companies of paramilitary forces will ensure fair and peaceful conduct of the elections in the state. Two companies will be deployed in Mandi parliamentary constituency while one company each will be deployed in Jubbal-Kotkhai, Arki, and Fatehpur assembly constituencies.

To increase the income of farmers from agri-horticulture and allied activities, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan district has started fish farming in the farm ponds at the university. Recently, the university introduced 3,000 fingerlings of four improved strains and varieties of fish at the university.

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These fingerlings were procured from the HP State Fishery Department Breeding Farm, Nalagarh. The introduced stock includes Hungarian Carp, Mrigal, Jayanti Rohu, and Catla. While Hungarian Carp and Mrigal are bottom feeders, Jayanti Rohu and Catla are column and surface feeders, respectively. The fingerlings have been introduced to promote poly-fish culture.

Shimla’s Govt Dental College 7th in survey

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Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College, Shimla, has figured at the seventh position in the most-economical colleges category in the country as per the survey conducted by a magazine. Principal Ashu Gupta congratulated the students and teachers for the achievement and informed that the college was ranked 27th overall. The parameters for assessment included quality intake and Governance, academic performance, and Atmosphere, Leadership and Personality and placements.

Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (DBT) of Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, organised several academic events during the pandemic. Apart from the first batch of MSc bio-technology programme, which began last year, a new postgraduate programme, MSc Microbiology, will begin this year. The department, in collaboration with HIMCOSTE, imparted training to two batches of undergraduate science students under the DBT Skill Vigyan Programme.