Work on Parwanoo-Shimla highway begins

Solan: The work to four-lane the Parwanoo-Shimla national highway, which was held-up due to the lockdown, resumed on Wednesday. GR Infraprojects, which is four-laning the Parwanoo-Solan section, resumed 12 type of work where 116 labourers have been deployed. The work on the Solan-Kaithlighat stretch also began by Airef Engineers where 114 workers have been engaged, said a government spokesperson here. TNS

‘Kisan Rath’ app for transporting farm produce

Shimla: A mobile application “Kisan Rath” has been developed by the Centre to facilitate farmers and traders for transportation of their produce and goods, said Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda on Tuesday. The application also offers support in Hindi language. So it can be easily accessed by farmers and traders and can be downloaded from Google Play Store. TNS

Ban on sale of paan, gutka in Dharamsala

Dharamsala: The Municipal Corporation, Dharamsala, has banned paan, gutka and chewing gum in the city. In an order issued here on Wednesday, the MC Commissioner Pradeep Thakur said any person may have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 if he is found to be spitting in public places. The sale and chewing of paan, gutka and chewing gums have also been prohibited. Selling of liquor has also been banned. A shopkeeper, who is found to be involved in selling these articles, would also be fined accordingly. These orders would remain effective till May 3. TNS

MLA Singha calls off dharna

Shimla: Theog legislator and senior CPM leader Rakesh Singha called off his dharna in front of the office of the SDM here last night after he reached an agreement with the district administration. The administration assured him that they would ensure fair distribution of ration among the needy. Singha said the administration had distributed ration to over 900 migrants and would ensure that other, who were left out, would be covered and nobody would be left hungry. TNS

Contributions to Covid fund pour in

Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also presented a cheque for Rs 11 lakh by Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur towards the HP SDMA Covid-19 State Disaster Response Fund. Director, Prosecution, Nand Lal Sen and joint director Jagdish Kanwar also presented a cheque for Rs 4,40,115 towards the fund. The HP IAS Officer Wives Association also gave Rs 4.50 lakh. TNS

CM for aid to students stranded in Rajasthan

Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday urged Lok Sabha Speaker and MP from Rajasthan Om Birla to help Himachal students stranded in Kota. In a letter to him, Thakur said hundreds of students were enrolled in various coaching institutes there. He requested Birla to take care of their well-being so that the concerns of their parents could be addressed. TNS

Kullu MLA seeks MSP for farmers

Mandi: Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur has urged the government to provide the minimum support price of crops to farmers. Farmers were facing the brunt of Covid-19 with their crops dying in fields. Broccoli, peas, iceberg lettuce and other exotic vegetables were ready for marketing. However, due to the lockdown, farmers couldn’t market their produce. The MLA urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur that the government should go for marketing intervention and provide minimum support prices of crops to each farmer as per cultivation of land area immediately. TNS

Implement Food Security Act: HPCC

Chamba: The HPCC has asked the government to implement the provisions of the Food Security and Safety Regulations so that the vulnerable sections of society could get daily meals. HPCC chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Pathania stated that he had demanded provision of free food to the families living below poverty line for at least six months, avoiding any situation of starvation. Beside this, cheap ration should also be provided to middle class families, Pathania demanded. OC

Workforce permission to firms cancelled

Solan: The Baddi police have cancelled permission granted to BRD Medilabs, Wings Biotech and Ultra Drugs for carrying more workforce than permitted in authorised vehicles. SP, Baddi, Rohit Malpani said the travel permission granted to these three industrial units for carrying specific number of workforce had been cancelled, as they had violated the norms of social distancing and other directions. They were directed to adhere to the norms in view of the Covid pandemic. TNS