Cabinet okays ropeway, horticulture projects

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Shimla, August 5

The Cabinet today approved the World Bank-funded Rs 1,000 crore Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project and six aerial ropeway projects, which had been pending for quite some time.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

The Cabinet also approved allotment of 217 mini and micro hydel projects up to 5 MW capacity in the state.

Under the horticulture project, the Cabinet approved creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to manage the Progeny-cum-Demonstration Orchards (PCDOs) and the farms owned by horticulture and other departments. Virbhadra Singh said the function of the societies or SPV formed would be to set up modern nurseries and demonstration orchards of various fruits, flowers and vegetables and to manage these PCDOs profitably so that the requirement of quality plant material could be met. Notwithstanding the ongoing tussle and legal battle with the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), the Cabinet waived 90 per cent entertainment tax from Kings XI Punjab for the matches played on May 15, 17 and 21, 2011 at Dharamsala.

The Cabinet gave go-ahead to the Tourism Department to sign fresh agreement for the Palchan-Rohtang Ropeway project with the same company who had been awarded the project earlier. The Cabinet also approved the setting up of a special purpose vehicle by the promoter in the name of M/s Manali Ropeway private limited.

The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the setting up of six aerial ropeway projects, namely Neugal (Palampur), Bhunter-Bijli Mahadev (Kullu), Dharamkot- Triund (Kangra), Toba-Nainadevi (Bilaspur), Shahtalai- Deotsidh (Hamirpur) and Sarahan- Bashal Kanda (Shimla).

The Cabinet also approved schemes and guidelines for implementation of State Mission on Food Processing. It also approved creation of National Optical Fiber Network with a view to connect all the panchayats in the state subject to the condition that the damaged roads would be repaired. It also gave its nod for revised policy for setting up of mobile communication tower in the state.

It decided to enhance block guarantee from Rs 10 crore to Rs 13 crore in favour of National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation, New Delhi and Rs 10 crore to Rs. 12 crore in favour of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, Faridabad in the interest of the minority communities and persons with disabilities.

The Cabinet also gave nod for filling of about 250 posts of various categories in various departments, including one post of Additional Chief Secretary.

The Cabinet also approved constitution of Waqf Tribunal as per Waqf (Amendment) Act 2013. The Cabinet also accorded approval for amendment in HP Private Medical Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2006.

Nod was given for opening Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at Nagrota Bagwan, Dodra Kawar, Siari in Solan, Badressa in Sarkaghat, Padhar and Katoli in Mandi and a women ITI at Bhararai in Bilaspur.

To invite tenders for supply of pulses

To add greater variety in the diet of the common man, the Cabinet agreed to invite tenders for supply of pulses under State Subsidy Scheme for distribution at the fair price shops across the state.

In the first category, rajmah, rongi and white channa (coarse dals)

In the second category moong, urd and black masar (sabut dals)

The third category comprises dal chana, malka and masri (dal bina chilka) would be bought for supply to ration card holders.