SHIMLA-10 January, 2026

State Government steers Himachal Pradesh towards ‘Blue Prosperity’ Under Vyavastha Parivartan

For decades, Himachal Pradesh has been known as the 'fruit bowl' of the country, but as of today, it is charting a new course toward becoming a hub of 'blue prosperity'.

The present state government took office with a solemn promise of 'Vyavastha Parivartan', a total transformation of the system and there is no better testament to this shift than the roaring success of the 'Mukhya Mantri Carp Matsya Palan Yojana' (MMCMPY).

When our Government took over three years before we realized that our rural youth were looking for more than just traditional employment, they were seeking dignity, innovation and 'self-reliance' within their own villages. This inspired to overhaul the fisheries sector, moving away from stagnant policies toward a more dynamic, incentive-based model.

By launching the MMCMPY in the 2024-25 , the state government didn't just introduce a scheme, but took measures to transform the rural economy.
The results of this systemic change are already visible in the numbers.
The state’s total fish production has surged from 17,000 metric tonnes in 2022-23 to a projected 19,000 metric tonnes this year. But more importantly, the growth in state reservoirs like Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, and Kol Dam is a proof that modern management and community involvement are working together to cater employment opportunities to the people near to their villages.

The scheme is currently being implemented in eight districts of the State, namely Bilaspur, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Sirmaur and Chamba, covering a wide geographical area and ensuring balanced regional development in the fisheries sector.

Chief Minister's vision of Vyavastha Parivartan is about making the government a partner in the farmer's journey towards self reliance, not a hurdle. To facilitate this, the government has set the unit cost for carp farming at Rs. 12.40 lakh per hectare and took the unprecedented step of providing an 80 percent subsidy. This ensures that the financial burden on the youth and small farmers is minimized, allowing them to focus on production rather than debt.

Whether it is a large one hectare pond or a small 500 square metre unit for a marginal farmer, the government support is inclusive and unwavering.
The state Government is establishing state-of-the-art Brood Banks. With an investment of Rs. 10 crore a Carp Brood Bank is being set up in Nalagarh and a Trout Brood Bank in Patlikuhal. These facilities will ensure that our farmers have access to high-quality seeds, ending the old era of dependence on external sources and ensuring the sustainability of our aquaculture practices.

Similarly, in the financial year 2025–26, the scheme continues to gain momentum, with the construction of new fish ponds covering an area of 5 hectares currently underway. For this purpose, a financial outlay of Rs. 50.00 lakh has been earmarked and is being utilized. The unit cost under the scheme has been fixed at Rs. 12.40 lakh per hectare, which includes the cost of first-year inputs such as seed, feed and other essential materials.

CM stated that the vision of the Government was clear, i.e. building an ecosystem where rural livelihood is synonymous with prosperity and innovation.

Through MMCMPY, we are not just breeding fish, but breeding hope and self-employment and a resilient future for over 20,000 families.
This is the essence of Vyavastha Parivartan, changing the system to change lives, said Sh. Sukhu.

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

CM directs installation of rooftop solar systems on health institutions

• Target set to meet 90 Percent of energy demand through renewable sources

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed to install rooftop solar systems on various buildings of health institutions under the Health Department. He said that installing these systems in a phased manner would promote green energy and also help save money.
He said that the State Government has set a target to develop the state as a green energy state and effective steps were being taken to achieve this goal.
The Chief Minister added that State's annual energy consumption is about 13,000 million units. To make the state self-reliant in the energy sector, the government has set a target to meet more than 90 percent of this energy requirement through renewable energy sources.
The State Government has set a target to install solar energy projects with a total capacity of 500 megawatts in the state within the next two years. At present, the 32 megawatt Pekhubela Solar Power Project, the 5 megawatt Bhanjal Solar Power Project, and the 10 megawatt Aghlaur Solar Power Project were already producing electricity. The State Government was making special efforts to promote alternative energy projects such as solar energy, green hydrogen, compressed biogas and other renewable sources.
To achieve the goal of making Himachal Pradesh a Green Energy State, the government has given a key role to Gram Panchayats. The Chief Minister has launched the Green Panchayat Programme, under which 500 kilowatt ground-mounted solar power projects would be set up in all panchayats.
In the first phase of approval has been given to install 500 kilowatt solar plants in 24 Gram Panchayats and work has already started in 16 panchayats. The programme aims to generate a total of 150 megawatts of solar power. Under this scheme, 20 per cent of the revenue earned from the electricity produced would be used by the state government to provide financial assistance to orphaned children and widows in the concerned Gram Panchayats.
The Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una district began commercial operations on 15 April, 2024. So far, it has generated 79.03 million units of electricity and earned Rs. 22.91 crore in revenue. The Bhanjal Solar Power Project in Una started commercial operations on 30 November, 2024 and has so far produced 8.57 million units of electricity, earning Rs. 3.10 crore in revenue. Electricity generation from the Aghlaur Solar Power Project in Una district began on 21 May, 2025 and it has produced 5.89 million units of electricity to date.
At present, three solar power projects with a total capacity of 31 megawatts were in the execution stage, while four projects with a combined capacity of 41 megawatts were in the tender stage. A 200-megawatt solar power plant would also be set up on barren land in the Damtal area of Kangra district.
Solar power projects ranging from 250 kilowatts to 5 megawatts were being allotted on a “first come, first served” basis. The electricity produced by these projects would be purchased by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL). Under this scheme, 547 investors have been allotted ground-mounted solar projects with a total capacity of 595.97 megawatts and power purchase agreements have already been signed for 403.09 megawatts.
In addition, HIMURJA has allotted solar power projects with a total capacity of 728.4 megawatts to HPSEBL. Out of these, 120 ground-mounted solar projects with a combined capacity of 150.13 megawatts have already started operations.

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

Education Minister expresses grief over Private Bus accident near Haripurdhar

Education Minister Rohit Thakur has expressed deep grief over the untimely loss of lives in a tragic private bus accident near Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district.

The Education Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident and urged the concerned authorities to ensure that the injured are provided with the best possible medical treatment.

Rohit Thakur prayed to the Almighty to grant strength and courage to the families to bear this irreparable loss during this hour of grief.

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

Circulation of fake posts on government calendar-2026 is unfortunate

· FIR registered by CID cyber crime cell

The Department of Printing and Stationery has expressed concern over the circulation of fake, misleading and malicious posts on social media regarding the Government Calendar-2026 printed by the department.

A Spokesperson of Printing and Stationery Department said that the calendar shown in these posts has been deliberately edited. The original dates have been distorted and presented in an unrealistic manner. The content has been tampered with the intention of creating confusion and spreading misinformation. Such actions were unethical and illegal and have caused damage to the reputation of the department.

Taking the matter seriously, FIR was registered by the State CID Cyber Crime Cell on 9 January, 2026.

The department has appealed to the general public not to believe such fake and misleading posts circulating on Facebook or any other social media platforms. People are also requested not to post, forward or share such content in any form.