No intention to implement old pension scheme, says Himachal govt

Dharamsala, December 10

The state government has no intention to implement the old pension scheme, the Assembly was informed on the first day of the winter session here today. The government, while replying to a question from Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, stated that the old pension scheme would put a financial burden of Rs 2,000 crore, besides a burden of Rs 500 crore per annum. The Central and all state governments had adopted the new pension scheme, it added.

Rs2,000 cr burden

The old scheme will put a burden of Rs2,000 cr, besides a burden of Rs500 crore per annum. — Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister

The government also informed the House that in the past three years, it had provided 23,931 jobs in various departments. Responding to a question from Jagat Singh Negi, Congress MLA from Kinnaur, the government said that it had an intention to open a mountaineering institute at Sangla.

To another question from BJP member Rakesh Dhawala, the House was informed that the government was examining a proposal to increase the honorarium paid to panchayat members. At present, a honorarium of Rs 250 per meeting up to the maximum of Rs 500 per month was being paid to the panchayat members.

To Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Bragta’s question, the government said that administrative approval had been granted to the Rs 190.82 crore Pabbar river channelling project. The Central Water Commission had given investment clearance for the project but funds were still awaited.

To Jubbal-Kotkhai MLA Rohit Thakur’s question, the House was informed that the MoU between the Agriculture Produce Export Corporation Authority (APECA) and the HPMC for establishing apple stores had been cancelled due the lack of grants. The government stated that Rs 4.18 crore had been sanctioned to set up a store in the Churrah area of Chamba district.