HIMACHAL PRADESH

The state witnessed an overall rain deficiency of 36 per cent from January 1 to February 27. The most affected districts are Solan (67 per cent deficient rain), Mandi (60 per cent), Bilaspur (53 per cent) and Hamirpur (45 per cent). The maximum crop loss due to dry weather was reported from Solan (Rs 36 crore). The overall crop loss has been pegged at Rs 75 crore till January 10, said an official of the Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture Department.

To mitigate the effects of the dry spell, Saxena has directed the Jal Shakti Department to complete work on 12 water schemes, which are nearing completion, in a month.

The Budget has left a bitter taste in the mouth of apple growers. With their profits sliding year after year due to a volatile market, sharp increase in input costs, and heavy import of apple from other countries, the growers feel the Budget has failed to address any of their concerns.

The biggest disappointment is the unchanged import duty on apple, which continues to be 50 per cent. We have been demanding for long that the duty be raised to 100 per cent. The unchanged duty will continue to hurt the domestic apple market, said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had also requested the Centre to increase the import duty on apple to 100 per cent during his meetings for consultation on the Union Budget in Delhi last month. Thakur had even made the suggestion that apple be excluded from the list of fruits and other commodities brought under the Open General License.

Governor RV Arlekar has given approval to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religions (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and nine other Bills. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu gave this information in the House on the second day of the Winter Session here today. These Bills were passed during the tenure of the previous BJP government.

According to the HP Freedom of Religions (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the definition of mass conversion will now mean the conversion of two or more persons at the same time. Under Section 7 of the Act, any person, who converts to another religion, shall not take any benefit of his parent religion or caste after conversion. If a person gives a false declaration and takes the benefit of caste or religion after conversion, he or she shall be liable for imprisonment of not less than two years, which can be extended up to five years, and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.

The amendment also states that anyone found involved in mass conversion in contravention of the provisions of the Act shall be liable for five to 10 years of imprisonment. If the offence is committed for the second time, the minimum imprisonment term shall be seven years, extendable up to 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh. Other Bills that were tabled in the House include the Himachal Pradesh Appropriation (Number 3) Bill, 2022. It provides authorisation of Rs 474 crore out of the consolidated fund of Himachal Pradesh to meet certain expenditure of financial year 2013-14.

The HP (Amendment) Bill 2021 provides for the appointment of a judge as Lokayukta. Earlier, only the High Court Chief Justice was eligible for the post.

The Himachal Pradesh Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Amendment Bill aims to regulate the use of underground water. It has a provision of five years of imprisonment for the violation of provisions.

The Himachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill 2022 provides that the Fiscal Deficit in the state Budget for financial year 2020-21 can exceed by 3 per cent to 4 per cent of the state GDP.

TheHimachal Pradeshcabinet on Tuesday approved the draft electric vehicle policy to promote sustainable transport system. The said the policy aims to makeHimachala global hub for electric mobility development and manufacturing and to create public and private charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. It is also going to provide subsidy and incentives to theelectric vehiclesmanufacturing industries.

The council of ministers, chaired by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, also gave its nod to introduce the Sardar Patel University, Mandi, (Establishment and Regulation) bill, 2021 in the state legislative assembly.

In order to double the farmers income by enhancing production and productivity of traditional crops and to improve nutritional security and income of growers, thecabinetdecided to implement Swaran Jayanti Paramparagat Beej Suraksha Avam Samvardhan Yojna in the State.

It gave its nod to provide relaxation for the year 2020-21 to toll units given that traffic was hit from June 2020 to September 2020.

Fifty (74 per cent) out of 68 MLA are crorepati and the Average assets of MLAs is Rs 8.45 crores. Balbir Verma from Chopal is the richest with assets worth Rs 90 crores while Kamlesh Kumari from Bhoranj is at the bottom of the list with assets of Rs 29 lakhs.

He said that 89 per cent of voters vote on the basis of the candidates face, personal equation and honesty while 11 per cent vote for the party. Interestingly, 20 per cent were not aware who the MLA was while 30 per cent said that MLA has not been seen in the past five years.

High density apple plantations will be a key tool for enhancing productivity and socio-economic status of the tribal peasantry of Kinnaur district, owing to its high gains.

The scientists informed that out of various cultivars being evaluated at an elevation of around 2,740 meters above the sea level, Super Chief, Red Velox and Jeromine showed promise in terms of productivity and quality.

The research outcomes of High-Density Plantation of Apple are being demonstrated at four locations namely Sungra (Nichar), Telangi (Kalpa), Chitkul (Sangla) and Nako (Pooh).

Himachal Pradesh has become Indias first state to connect the Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).

All the registered commercial vehicles equipped with VLRD will be connected with ERSS.

Through this mechanism, these vehicles can be tracked anywhere in India.

Over 9,423 vehicles have been registered and connected with ERSS.

Under this mechanism, both Police and transport department can now monitor the vehicles.

This system was launched by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur at Peterhof, in Shimla.

Panic Button for safety

Chief Minister also launched the facility of panic button for womens and childs safety in public vehicles. Vehicle Location Tracking Device, comprising of Emergency Panic Button System and Command Control Centre has been linked with the Emergency Response Support System 112. When this panic button is pressed at the time of distress, it would send a signal through satellite to 112. Following this, the system will connect the person in distress and alert the police.

Establishment of this monitoring centre or command control centre would help in detecting the theft of vehicles and vehicle accidents easily.

It would easy to monitor the movement of vehicle, in order to ensure safety of Women and children.

This innovative initiative would make roads in states more safe and secure.

Several schemes have been launched for the development of tribal areas in the state, the Chief Minister said while addressing a public meeting at Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district.

Thakur also inaugurated Yoche-Boltozing Road constructed by spending an amount of Rs 1.34 crore. He laid foundation stones of Rs 12.24 Shopping Complex and Parking at Keylong, Rs 13.69 crore augmentation work of Drinking Water Supply Scheme Keylong, Rs 1.10 crore Fire Hydrant for Keylong, Rs 1.33 crore Flow Irrigation Scheme Kardang, Rs 85 lakh Flow Irrigation Scheme, Tozing, Rs 1.26 crore Flood Protection Work at Jispa, Rs 6.59 crore Flood Protection Work for Goshal, Rs 45 lakh Flow Irrigation Scheme, Kawaring, Rs 1.19 crore Flow Irrigation Scheme, Bargul and Rs 78 lakh Flow Irrigation Scheme, Rogling.