Government to bring 'Open Hydel Policy': CM

SHIMLA -3^rd June, 2023-While presiding over the meeting with the Association of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured full support to make their projects economically viable by assisting in removing all the hindrances. He said that the State Government would provide handholding in getting all clearances to set up their power projects. He said that if any gram Panchayat does not provide No Objection Certificate (NOC) in a stipulated time period, it would be considered deemed to be sanctioned. He said that State Government would bring Open Hydro Policy in order to facilitate the power producers.

Chief Minister said that besides tourism, Hydel sector was the main resource of revenue for the State exchequer. He said that the State Government has enacted Water Cess Act to strengthen the economy of the State. He sought a self proposal from the IPPs on the quantum of water cess to implement the Act and said that the government would sympathetically consider their proposal. The Chief Minister said that the State Government was also taking up the issue of enhancing the royalty in the power projects set up by Central PSUs especially which have covered their expenses. On the demand of IPPs, Chief Minister directed the HPPTCL to expedite the laying of power transmission lines in order to evacuate the power supply from generation sites well in time so that they may not have to face the financial losses.

The Chief Minister said that State Government would consider their demand positively for the calculation of power tariffs from the date of commercial operation rather than from the date of Power Purchase Agreement for 41 power projects. He said that the State Government would also issue advisory to Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission to consider royalty on actual basis i.e. 12, 18 and 30 percent.

Chief Minister said that 111 mini and micro power projects were contributing Rs. 223.60 crore as annual revenue to the State exchequer. He asked the IPPs to complete their power projects in time bound manner so that the benefits of these projects could be reaped at the earliest. He said that there was potential of 3539 MW power through IPPs out of which only 754 MW has been harnessed so far.

The State Government was also prioritizing to harness solar and wind energy and has set a target of producing 500 MW solar power during this year, besides a study is also underway to set up wind energy power projects in the State, said the Chief Minister.

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, MLA Chander Shekhar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bharat Khera, Secretary Jal Shakti Vibhag Amitabh Awasthy, Managing Director Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. Rugved Thakur, Director Energy Harikesh Meena and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

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Press Statement of Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu issued at Shimla on 3rd June, 2023

SHIMLA,03.06.23-The State Government is making all out efforts to declare the pending results of the examinations conducted by the disbanded Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC), Hamirpur at the earliest. The results of the exams, which are not under the scanner of vigilance, will be declared soon. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a press statement issued here today.

He said that the record of examinations from HPSSC, which was dissolved due to malpractices, was being transferred to Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, Shimla.

The Government is fully committed to ensure transparency in the functioning of the government and its institutions, said the Chief Minister, adding further that the Government was taking decisions keeping in mind the interests of the youth and will not tolerate jeopardizing the future of meritorious and deserving students.

The government is conducting the recruitment process in a transparent manner, unlike the previous BJP government, where examination paper leaks were observed at HPSSC, and no action was taken against those involved in the scam.

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Better Transport and Road connectivity for smooth and Safe Journey: CM

SHIMLA,03.06.23-Better transport facilities along with good road connectivity helps the economy of the State by improving the ability and efficiency of accessing and distributing goods, services and productive capacity with employment opportunities created around the State and plays a key role in balanced and equitable development besides harnessing growth potentials of each and every sector of the State.

The State Government is taking up the issues of National Highways and four lanes time and again with the Union Government. In fact Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has mooted an idea of 'Green Corridors' Highways in the State, besides giving directions to maintain and refurbish the link roads within the State to facilitate the commuters.

Of late, the Chief Minster has also directed to set up Traffic cum Tourists Police Stations on major four lane projects in the State, particularly on Kiratpur-Manali four lane. Apart from this, use of advanced technology is being ensured in coordination with the National Highway Authority of India and the State Police for smooth operation of traffic on this National Highway and reducing the chances of accidents etc.

The Chief Minister stated that Advanced Traffic Management System has been prepared. Under this, emergency call boxes along with high tech CCTV cameras, automatic traffic counter-cum-classifiers, Vehicle Actuated Speed Displays and Overhead Driver Feedback System, variable message sign, video incident detection system and Met device are also being installed, besides command and control centre at toll plaza and connectivity through optic fiber along NH. He also directed to increase the number of display boards related to speed limits. He urged the National Highways Authority of India to provide financial assistance for the Integrated Command Center.

Besides, the Road Safety Cell established in the Transport Department has proved a boon to the commuters ensuring safe and secure journey. Quite a few stringent measures have been taken to improve the black spots. Out of 147 black spots, as identified so far around 117 have been improved and directions have been issued to fix up the remaining 30 such spots.

A sum of Rs 16 crore will be spent on Inspection and Certification Centre at Baddi for vehicles, so that only mechanically perfect vehicles are allowed to ply in the State.

Being a tourist State with thousands of vehicles and buses visiting the State every day, it has been observed that many private buses from other states ply in an unauthorized manner without paying taxes and proper registration. This not only causes huge losses to the State exchequer, but also it eats into the share of legal bus transporters of the State. The State Government has devised a legal mechanism to 'challan' of such buses. In order to give more teeth to the Motor Vehicle Inspector, they have now been authorized for challaning vehicles defying rules.

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SHIMLA - 3^rd June, 2023

Agreement for HPSHIVA project to be signed on 8^th June : Chief Minister

Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here today that loan agreement for the main project of HPSHIVA Project (Himachal Pradesh Sub-Tropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition) would be signed between the Asian Development Bank, Government of India and Government of Himachal Pradesh on 8th June, 2023. He said that total cost of this project would be Rs. 1292 crore, of which Rs. 1030 crore will be borne by the Asian Development Bank and Rs 262 crore by the state government.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government was making concerted efforts to implement this project. It was successfully taken up at various levels to get the approval of the project. With the implementation of the project, the farmers of the state would get self-employment opportunities and the economy of the state would also be strengthened, he added.

He said that the implementation of this project would be done in 28 development blocks of 7 districts including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur and Una in the low-lying areas of the state with sub-tropical climate.

Based on “Beej Se Bazar” concept the farmers will be connected to the market by adding value after harvest along with scientific and commercial agriculture techniques. This project is an important step towards realizing the dream of making Himachal Pradesh a "fruit state". The criteria for the selection of clusters under the project have been developed in a participatory manner. Soil tests were done for crop suitability of the identified clusters and final selection of clusters was done after geospatial survey for identification of multi-year water sources and terrestrial feasibility for assured irrigation. Keeping in view the requirements of marketing, along with the market demand of 14 identified fruits and crops, various components of their value chain have also been studied.

The pilot phase of the HP Shiva project has already been successfully implemented, in which fruit plants were planted in an area of 200 hectares under 17 clusters, out of which farmers of 12 pilot clusters have produced orange, guava and pomegranate successfully.

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SHIMLA -3^rd June, 2023

Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls of all ACs

A spokesman of the Election Department informed here today that the Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls with respect to 1^st January, 2024 as qualifying date was being conducted for all 68 Assembly Constituencies in the State.

He said that training of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs) etc on all laws and guidelines related to ER, including training on the latest IT applications and systems was being conducted from 1^st June to 20^th July, 2023. House to house verifications by BLOs would be conducted from 21^st July to 21^st August, 2023. Rationalization, re-arrangements of polling stations, removal of discrepancies in electoral roll, Electors Photo Identification Cards (EPICs), improvement of image quality ensuring good quality photographs by replacing blurred, poor quality and not to specification and non-human images in roll, recasting of section, parts and finalization of proposed restructuring of section, part boundaries location of polling stations and getting approval list of polling stations, identification of gaps and finalizing the strategy and timeline to bridge such gaps and updation of control table would be done from 22^nd August to 29^th September, 2023.

He said that preparation of supplements and integrated draft roll with reference to 1^st January, 2024 as the qualifying date would be conducted from 30^th September to 16^th October, 2023. Publication of the integrated draft electoral will be done on 17^th October. Period for filing claims and objections would be from 17^th October to 30^th November, 2023. Claims and objections would be disposed by 26^th December, 2023. He said that the electoral roll would be finally published on 5^th January, 2024.

He requested all eligible citizens residing in the state to extend their fullest cooperation to the booth level officers making house to house visit for the verification of electoral roll.

He appealed to the citizens, political parties, NGOs, Mahila and Yuvak Mandals to inspect the photo electoral rolls during the period of draft publication from 17^th October 2023 to 30 November 2023 and extend their pro-active cooperation for inclusion of names of eligible electors and for deletion of names of ineligible electors.