SHIMLA 9 June, 2026

Himachal to collaborate with Norway on advanced waste management technologies and sustainable development: CM

• CM invites Norwegian companies to invest in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is set to benefit from Norwegian expertise, best practices and advanced technologies in the processing and recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. Beyond C&D waste management, the State Government is keen to collaborate with Norway and learn from its experience in key areas such as circular economy and resource recovery, sustainable tourism and waste-free destinations, climate-resilient urban development, renewable energy and green transition and digital governance and smart cities.

Detailed discussions in this regard were held between Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Ambassador of Norway to India, May-Elin Stener, in Shimla today. The duo deliberated on various issues, including solid waste management and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste management in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister also invited Norwegian companies to invest in the State, particularly in the tourism, green energy and geothermal sectors.

The Chief Minister said, “Himachal Pradesh and Norway share a common commitment to protecting nature while pursuing sustainable development. I am confident that this cooperation will lead to innovative solutions that benefit not only Himachal Pradesh but also other hilly regions across the world.”

Sh. Sukhu further stated that Himachal Pradesh was committed to emerge as a leading Himalayan State in the sustainable and environmentally responsible urban development. “We invite Norwegian institutions, experts, and technology providers to work closely with the state government and help to develop innovative, scalable solutions that can be replicated across mountain regions,” he added.

The Chief Minister further highlighted that the state government was vigorously promoting the adoption of electric vehicles as part of its environmental conservation efforts. Himachal Pradesh has set a target of increasing its green cover from 29.5 percent to 32 percent, with active participation from youth and other sections of society. He also stated that the government was encouraging chemical-free natural farming in the State and had been providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers for maize, wheat, milk, and raw turmeric to strengthen the rural economy and promote sustainable agriculture.

Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Mayor Surender Chauhan, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Director, Urban Development Neeraj Chadha and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

==========================================

SHIMLA 9 June, 2026

Secretary Finance inaugurates RBI programme on cash and debt management

• Calls for stronger cash and debt management practices

Secretary, Finance Dr. Abhishek Jain inaugurated a Capacity Building Programme (CBP) on cash and debt management organized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for officers of the Finance department, State Treasury and Principal Accountant General (A&E and Audit) office in Shimla.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Jain briefed about the current financial position of the state and highlighted various initiatives being undertaken by the Finance department to strengthen cash management, improve fiscal discipline and ensure efficient utilization of financial resources.

The Secretary Finance said that the knowledge and insights gained during the sessions are expected to further strengthen the State's financial management framework and enhance decision-making related to cash flow and debt operations.

Dr. Abhishek Jain appreciated RBI's initiative and expressed its commitment to continued collaboration in strengthening public financial management systems and institutional capacity.

An expert team led by Rakesh Tripathi, Chief General Manager, Internal Debt Management Department, RBI, Mumbai, delivered detailed presentations on cash flow forecasting, debt management, ways and means advances, investment of surplus funds, fiscal risk management and modern practices in public debt management.

RBI experts emphasized the importance of accurate cash flow forecasting, prudent debt planning, effective liquidity management, and close coordination among the Finance Department, Treasury and Accountant General's Office to improve fiscal sustainability and reduce borrowing costs.

Special Secretary (Finance) Saurav Jassal, Director (Treasuries & Accounts)-cum-Special Secretary (Finance) Vijay Wardhan, along with other officers and officials dealing with budget, cash management and debt-related matters were also present on the occasion.

============================================

CS reviews preparedness for upcoming monsoon

A review meeting was presided over by Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant here today to discuss preparations for the upcoming monsoon season with the district administrations and other stakeholder departments.

While prioritizing strengthening the state's monsoon preparedness to minimize losses from rain-related disasters, the Chief Secretary said that the government has focused on inter-departmental coordination, early warning systems, flood control and emergency response mechanisms.

He directed for stocking up adequate food grains, ration and emergency fuel in remote or highly vulnerable areas and asked dam authorities to strictly adhere to warning protocols and provide prior notification to local populations before releasing excess water.

The state is emphasizing rapid response measures, with the Revenue and Disaster Management Department continuously monitoring the changing weather patterns and coordinating relief operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) gave a presentation on the monsoon forecast, previous weather trends and the warning systems, while the Central Water Commission shared information on flood forecasting and early warning systems.

The representatives of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) gave detailed presentations about their readiness for monsoon and available equipments. The representatives of various stakeholder departments like HPPWD, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire Services also briefed about the monsoon preparedness of their respective departments.

Earlier, Dr. Pushpender Rana, Director and Special Secretary (Revenue and Disaster), gave a detailed report on the steps already taken for monsoon preparedness in the State.

The senior officers, including Secretaries and Heads of various departments and officials from health, police, HPSEB, agriculture, horticulture, forest, animal husbandry, food and civil supplies, police and transport attended the meeting

===============================================

SHIMLA 9 June, 2026

SSWC & MA approves 42 industrial proposals with investment of Rs.5877 crore

• Expected to generate employment opportunities 13355 persons

The 32^ndMeeting of the State Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority (SSWC&MA) was held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu approved 42 industrial investment proposals with a proposed investment of Rs. 5877.01 crore having potential to generate 13355 employment opportunities in the state. The meeting is part of the state government’s sustained efforts to promote industrial growth, attract investments, generate large-scale employment and ensure balanced regional development through streamlined approval mechanisms and investor facilitation.

The approvals granted during the meeting reaffirm the state government’s strong commitment to foster a progressive and inclusive industrial ecosystem. The state government is committed towards enhancing the ease of doing business through adoption of streamlined digital single-window mechanisms.

The sectoral spread of proposals reflects increasing diversification of Himachal Pradesh’s industrial base, with proposals from Pharma, Automobile, Textiles, Chemicals, Electrical & Electronics, Plastic & Packaging based, Food Processing, Cosmetics, Steel etc.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized the state government’s focus to promote labor-intensive industries that can generate maximum employment opportunities for the youth of Himachal Pradesh, and commitment to creating a progressive industrial ecosystem that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability. He directed the department to notify the New Himachal Pradesh Industrial Policy within next two months, thereby enabling Himachal Pradesh to compete with other neighboring states.

During the meeting Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan highlighted the state’s investor-friendly environment and said 'Himachal Pradesh is rapidly emerging as an attractive investment destination across multiple sectors especially the defense and Pharma. Through proactive policies, robust infrastructure and efficient single-window clearances, the government was ensuring ease of doing business for investors.' From the present data of the last 3 years the industrial investment conversion rate is 57 percent, which is much above the national average rate of 32-35 percent.

Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretary Finance Dr. Abhishek Jain, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Labour and Employment Priyanka Basu Ingty, Secretary, Environment, Science & Technology and Climate Change Sushil Kumar Singla, Director Industries Yunus and other senior officers also attended the meeting.