SHIMLA -13^th August, 2025

Chief Minister releases book 'Sanghrash Se Shikhar Tak'

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released a book 'Sanghrash Se Shikhar Tak' written by Mamta Gupta of Solan district here today.

This book is a compilation of struggle stories of senior officers working in Himachal Pradesh and have achieved their positions despite adverse circumstances. The book reflects that individuals can attain success in their life in sheer of hard work, determination and commitment to serve the people.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that this book will be an inspiration for the youth to achieve their goals.

Writer and Headmistress of Government High School Kanah, Solan Mamta Gupta thanked the Chief Minister for releasing the book and said that this book dwelt upon untiring efforts made by the officers in accomplishing their mission.

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CM condoles demise of Havildar Arun Kumar ‘Lucky’

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has condoled the death of Havildar Arun Kumar 'Lucky' serving in Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh. He belonged to village Chatara of Kutlehar assembly constituency in Una district.

The Chief Minister said that Havildar Arun Kumar served the Nation with dedication and devotion and his commitment to duty will be remembered by the people of the country.

He prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss.

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Message of Chief Minister on Independence Day on AIR and DD Himachal

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's message to the people of the State on Independence Day will be broadcast on the All India Radio, Shimla on the eve of Independence Day on 14 August, 2025 at 8:00 PM.

FM Shimla, FM Hamirpur, FM Dharamshala and all relay centres of AIR Shimla will also broadcast the message.

Similarly, DD Himachal will telecast the message of the Chief Minister at 9:30 AM on 15 August, 2025.

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Deputy CM expresses grief over demise of Havildar Arun Kumar ‘Lucky’

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of Havildar Arun Kumar ‘Lucky’ of Chatara village in Kutlehar Assembly Constituency of Una district, who laid down his life in the line of duty in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Havildar Arun Kumar’s courage, service, and dedication to the nation will always be remembered and his supreme sacrifice will continue to inspire generations to come.

Mukesh Agnihotri prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

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Himachal Pradesh government providing full co-operation in construction of railway projects: Mukesh Agnihotri

• Says, Central government should fulfill its responsibility

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said here today that the opposition leaders of the state are making baseless statements about the ongoing railway projects in Himachal Pradesh. He clarified that the state government was providing full co-operation to the central government at every level for the development of these projects. He said that the central government must fulfill its responsibility in the construction of these projects.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that the allegation by the opposition that the state government is not co-operating is completely baseless and misleading. He said: "The state government's viewpoint is clear. We are rising above political differences and working with the central government for the development of the state. The railway projects are extremely important for the economic, social and tourism development of Himachal. These will not only help in connecting the remote areas of the state with other parts of the country but are also important from the national security and strategic point of view."

Sh. Agnihotri stated that for a hilly and special category state like Himachal, rail connectivity is as important as road and air connectivity. He said: "It is the priority of the state government that the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line, Chandigarh-Baddi rail line and Nangal-Talwara rail line projects are completed on time." In these projects, the state government has not only made financial contribution but has also played an active role in land acquisition, administrative approvals and completing other necessary formalities, he said adding that the state government has so far contributed Rs. 847 crore as the state share for the construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line. He further stated that the work on this railway line is in progress and this work is expected to be completed till Bilaspur by December 31, 2027. The State Government has already paid its share in the cost of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line.

He said that there was a delay in the implementation of this project, so the project cost reported by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has increased by 6.45 times to Rs 6753.42 crore. Now the State's share has increased to Rs 2583.01 crore, which includes land acquisition cost of Rs 1210.42 crore. Thus, the State Government has to spend 38.84 percent of the total project cost.

The Deputy CM said that the work of Chandigarh-Baddi Rail Line Project is in progress. This project has been declared as a special railway project by the Government of India. The length of this project costing Rs 1540.113 crore is 30.28 km. The State Government's share in this is Rs 363.50 crore, out of which Rs 223.75 crore has been given to Northern Railway. The target has been set to complete the work of this railway line by April 30, 2026.

He added that most of the Nangal-Talwara railway line has been completed and it has been opened for traffic from Nangal to Daulatpur Chowk. The entire cost of this project is being borne by the Central Government, in which the state government has also played a supporting role. The length of this project is 122.57 km, out of which 60.03 km of land is located in Himachal Pradesh and 62.24 km of land is located in Punjab. A total of 59.325 km of work on this project has been completed.

Mukesh Agnihotri said: "Rail projects play the most important role in the development of the entire nation. These projects are also important from a strategic point of view. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Central Government to bear the full cost of construction of rail projects in Himachal, so that they can be completed on time."

He added: "The geographical conditions of Himachal Pradesh are different from other states and the income resources here are also limited. Therefore, the Central Government should bear the cost of the railway projects under construction in the state by shouldering its moral responsibility."

The Deputy Chief Minister said that he himself reviews these projects from time to time and maintains co-ordination with the Railway Ministry so that there is no unnecessary delay in the work.

He urged the opposition to refrain from making statements without confirming the facts and work together in the interest of the state. He reiterated that the Himachal Pradesh Government is fully committed to expand the rail network in partnership with the Central Government, so that the citizens of the state can get better transport facilities, faster connectivity and new economic opportunities.

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Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil administers oath against against drug abuse and illegal trafficking

Health and Family Welfare, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil administered oath under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan against drug abuse and illegal trafficking here today. During the programme, he administered the oath to 96 National Service Scheme Volunteers, National Cadet Corps and Scouts & Guides from Govt. Degree College Kotshhera, 20 students from Govt. Degree College Sanjauli, 13 students from Himachal Pradesh University's Department of Social Works, along with Secretariat officials, members of Gyan-Vigyan Samiti, office-bearers of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and officials of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, to make their district, state and country drug-free.

Dr. Shandil urged the youth, women, officials, employees and people of Himachal Pradesh to stay aware of the harmful effects of drugs, take active part in the campaign and show united commitment against drug abuse.

The Health Minister said that youth are the future of the state and the country, and only energetic youth can build a prosperous nation. Unfortunately, the trend of drug use has increased in society and it was becoming increasingly important to guide the youth in the right direction along with prevention and rehabilitation measures.

The Drug-Free India Campaign was launched by the Government of India five years ago to spread awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and has played a significant role in building a drug-free society. Last year over 5.75 lakh people were made aware of the dangers of drugs under the National Drug Prevention Campaign in the State. Awareness activities were carried out in 5,660 villages and 4,332 educational institutions, targeting adolescents, youth, women and the general public.

Dr. Shandil added that the state government has taken strict action against drugs. Two bills have been passed recently in the Assembly against drug abuse and related crime. These bills include provisions for death penalty, life imprisonment, fines up to Rs. 10 lakh, confiscation of property, rehabilitation, preventive education and livelihood support. Under the PIT NDPS Act, Himachal Pradesh Police has seized illegal property worth Rs. 42 crore, identified the property of 70 traffickers and detained 44 notorious drug peddlers, he added

The campaign is being actively run at the panchayat level to identify smugglers and consumers have been identified. A Special Task Force has been formed to focus on anti-drug operations and 13 police stations have been notified for the same.

Dr. Shandil said that a 100-bed, fully equipped, modern de-addiction center would be set up at Kotla Barog in district Sirmaur, with Rs. 5.34 crore already approved. The Directorate of ESOMSA is working with NITI Aayog, the National Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS Delhi and PGI Chandigarh to prepare a detailed State Action Plan for drug prevention.

He said that De-addiction and rehabilitation centres are already operational in the state - four for men in Kullu, Una, Hamirpur and Kangra districts, and one for women run by the Red Cross Society in District Kullu. For counseling of the youth, 108 new 'Disha' centres have been set up in health institutions. ASHA workers, doctors and psychiatrists are also being specially trained for this purpose.

The collective oath campaign under the Drug-Free India initiative is being held across the country from 1^st August to 31^st August, 2025. In Himachal Pradesh, students, women, employees and the general public will be encouraged to participate in large numbers. Various activities like seminars, webinars, competitions in schools and colleges, workshops, human chains, student rallies, flash mobs, street plays, marathons, walkathons, sports competitions and tree plantation drives would be organized to spread the message of staying away from drugs.

During the programme, all students, officials, employees and dignitaries scanned a QR code to take the pledge against drug abuse and illegal trafficking, and downloaded their certificates online. Others can also join the campaign by scanning the QR code and taking the pledge.

Director ESOMSA Sumit Khimta, Additional Director Dr. Bhawana and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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Industries Minister addresses queries of bidder companies of Bulk Drug Park

While presiding over the over the 10^th meeting of High Powered Committee (HPC) of Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Limited (HPBDPIL) here today Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan reviewed the actions taken on key decisions in ninth meeting of High Powered Committee.

Pre-bid queries related to the tender of designing, construction, supplying, erection, testing, and commissioning of the Common Steam which includes Turbine Power Generation and Steam Distribution Network, the value of which is Rs. 300.28 crore, were raised by various bidder companies that attended the meeting virtually and were addressed by the Committee.

The Industries Minister stated that the park aims to establish world-class, common infrastructure facilities, which will lower manufacturing costs, boost competitiveness and promote self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector while generating employment opportunities. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to addressing investor concerns to ensure seamless project execution. With pre-bid queries now resolved, the bidding process is anticipated to progress swiftly.

Director Industries and MD-Cum-CEO of State Implementing Agency of Bulk Drug Park Dr. Yunus made a detailed presentation indicating recent development related to Bulk Drug Park.

Additional Chief Secretary Industries RD Nazeem, MD HPSIDC Richa Verma, Additional CEO Industries Tilak Raj Sharma and other senior officers of various stakeholder departments were also present in the meeting.

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A training workshop on Krishi Mapper application organized

An online meeting and training session on the 'Krishi Mapper' application, a digital platform developed by the Government of India for capturing the exact location of fields, orchard and assets through geo-tagging and geo-fencing, was organised under the chairmanship of Director Horticulture Vinay Singh, here today.

A spokesperson of the Horticulture Department informed that this application would support real-time monitoring for instant supervision of field activities and assessment of progress besides elimination of duplication of beneficiaries to ensure transparency. The application would be beneficial in maintaining the centralized digital database for maintaining integrated records of all horticulture and agriculture activities.

He said that the application is accessible as a mobile app and web portal, enabling data entry at the field level. The upcoming feature of the application would be capable to capture data even without network connectivity.

During the training session, emphasis was laid on the mandatory adoption of geo-tagging and geo-fencing for all components of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) schemes. Instructions were given for timely data uploading, creation of user IDs at departmental and field level and strict compliance to avoid stoppage of funds by the Government of India. It was also directed that no subsidy should be released without geo-tagging and geo-fencing and that all field officers should be given immediate training on user ID creation for effective implementation of Krishi Mapper.

The spokesperson said that the main features of Krishi Mapper are real-time monitoring, elimination of beneficiary duplication and the training and sensitization of field staff. Upcoming features include integration with the MIDH Suraksha portal, offline data entry facility and expansion of the application.