CM flags off state contingent for National Ice Skating Championship

SHIMLA -23^rd June, 2025-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off a contingent of 60 players, who would be participating in National level Ice Skating Championship to be held in Dehradun from 25^th June to 28^th June, 2025 from his official residence Oak Over here today. Players would compete in seven age-wise categories.

The Chief Minister extended his best wishes to the participants for the event and also congratulated them on the occasion of International Olympics Day.

Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was promoting sports and nurturing talent in the State. The government has undertaken various schemes to support the players and has enhanced the prize money significantly for the medal winners of international competitions such as Olympics, Para Olympics and Asian Games. He said that to encourage athletes, the state government has also increased diet money and was also facilitating better travel facilities. Athletes now receive AC three tiers train fares for the journey upto 200 kilometers and economy class air fares for longer distances.

He said that these facilities aim to promote greater participation in sports and provide modern amenities which would help the younger generation to stay away from drug abuses and embrace a healthier lifestyle by participating in the sports activities.

President of Himachal Pradesh Ice Skating Association District Shimla Ikashwaku Justa and District Vice President Yogesh Sihea were also present on the occasion.

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CM releases activity calendar

·Lauds Forest department for green initiatives across 1000 educational institutions

SHIMLA- 23^rd June, 2025Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today released an activity calendar of the Forest Department highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the department on 5^th June on the occasion of International Environment Day across the State. The Forest department conducted a series of programmes focused on environment protection and its various aspects in the educational institutions across the State. The Forest department celebrated the Environment Day on the themes of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Nam' and 'Beat the Plastics' in about 1000 educational institutions across the State and witnessed the participation of more than 50,000 students. The department also carried out cleanliness drives around various offices, involving newly recruited Van Mitras, common people and students.

The Chief Minister congratulated the department for successfully executing these initiatives and expressed confidence that the department would continue to work for clean and sustainable environment. He directed the officers to aware the public about the various departmental schemes and ensure public participation in implementing these policies and programmes on the ground.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HOFF) Sameer Rastogi and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

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CM seeks 12 percent free power from BBMB projects for State

SHIMLA - 23^rd June, 2025-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has demanded 12 percent free power from all Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects in favour of Himachal Pradesh. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister pointed out that while all the hydro power projects approved by the State Government are providing free power, whereas BBMB projects are not contributing any free power to the State, despite the fact that vast hydro power potential in Himachal Pradesh was taken away with the setting up of BBMB projects. He wrote, "The State has suffered and did not get its due. This historical wrong can be corrected now with your intervention by providing 12 percent free power from BBMB projects to Himachal Pradesh".

In separate letters to Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Chief Minister has urged him to direct SJVNL to provide one percent additional free power over and above the free power, from Nathpa Jhakri Power Project for the Local Area Development Fund on the analogy of Rampur Power Project of SJVNL in the larger interest of affected families by the project.

Sh. Sukhu has also requested the Union Power Minister to ensure representation to Himachal Pradesh in the BBMB by appointing a whole time member from Himachal. In the letter, he said that despite repeated requests at various levels, the State has not received its rightful representation as whole time member in the BBMB.

The Chief Minister has also written a letter to his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini, stating that Haryana shall convey in writing for giving consent to provide BBMB energy arrears of his share with six percent interest before the next date of hearing. Haryana along with Punjab share energy arrears of 13066 million units from November, 1966 to October, 2011 as on 31st October, 2011 from BBMB, which can be given over a period of 15 years to Himachal Pradesh at the rate of 871 million units per year. He said, "A resolution on this matter would enable both our States to move forward on the projects in pipeline and also projects under consideration to address the needs of Haryana."