Intense cold wave gripped the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh as the local weather department issued an orange alert for severe cold in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi districts for four days from Monday.

The meteorological department also predicted light rain and snowfall at a few places in the mid and higher hills till Thursday.

While the minimum temperatures stayed below normal, the weather remained dry and day temperatures dropped by two to three degrees.

Tabo was coldest in the state with a low of minus 11. 6 degrees, while Sumdo, Kusumseri and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 5.3 degrees, minus 4.8 degrees and minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Una recorded a low of 1.0 degree, followed by Bhuntar 1.5 degree Celsius. Una was also the hottest place in the state with a high of 23.8 degrees, down from Saturday’s 24.5 degrees Celsius.

The weather station also issued a yellow warning of dense fog over some parts of Bhakra Dam reservoir area and Balh Valley in Mandi from December 24-26. Thick ground frost could be seen at isolated places in the lower hills from December 24-26.

An active western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains from December 27 onwards. Light rain and snow are likely at isolated places over the state on December 23 and 24 and at many places on December 27 and 28, causing a gradual fall in temperatures.

The high-altitude tribal areas and mountain passes reeled under piercing cold wave conditions, with the mercury staying 14-18 degrees below freezing point. Water pipes were frozen at many places in mid and higher hills, and the natural sources of water like springs, rivulets and tributaries of snow-fed rivers were frozen, reducing the discharge of water, which severely affected hydropower generation.

Farmers in the state are a worried lot due to the continued dry weather and presence of frost, which was injurious for Rabi crops sown in November and December.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania introduced Zero Hour in the Assembly. During the Zero Hour, the members of the House would be at liberty to raise any issue pertaining to the state or their constituencies.

The Speaker said that it was for the first time that the Zero Hour had been introduced in the Vidhan Sabha.

It would be of half an hour after the Question Hour. As the members of the House would be at liberty to raise any issue during the Zero Hour, the ministers would also have the liberty to answer the questions posed by them or submit written replies at a later stage.

He said that the Zero Hour had been started as per the tradition followed in Parliament. The members of the House could give a notice for raising issues during the Zero Hour just one hour before the start of the session, he added. Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur congratulated the Speaker on the introduction of the Zero Hour.

During the Zero Hour, Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana drew the attention of the House towards the toll barrier of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the Tokala area of the district.

She said that as per the NHAI rules, there could be just one toll barrier within a distance of 60 km. However, in Lahaul, toll barriers had been set up within a distance of 60 km. PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh assured the House of taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

BJP’s Bharmour MLA Janak Raj drew the attention of the House towards problems being faced by Gaddi shepherds due to shrinking pastures, failure of the government to purchase wool and drought-like conditions in the state.

The Assembly today passed the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2024, though some BJP members and Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Chander Kumar expressed apprehensions about it. A total of 14 Bills were passed.

The government had introduced the Bill to help the transfer of land of a hospital set up by Radha Soami Satsang Beas at Bhota in Hamirpur district.

The Dera Beas was holding land in the state beyond the permissible limit, as prescribed under the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972, as it was exempted under the provisions of Clause (i) of Section 5 of the Act.

The Dera Beas had requested the state government time and again to allow it to transfer about 30 acres and the building of the Bhota Charitable Hospital to the Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society, a sister organisation, for better management of medical services. The Section 5 of the Act bars the transfer of land or structure.

The government introduced the Bill to facilitate land transfer of the Bhota Charitable Hospital to the Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society in public interest. As per the amendment to the Act, for other cases of similar nature, a provision of the permission of the state government had been proposed with certain conditions.

BJP’s Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma, while participating in the debate over the amendment Bill, said that it had been brought for the transfer of the hospital land of Radha Soami Satsang Beas.

“The BJP agrees that the hospital run by Radha Soami Satsang Beas is doing a good work in the interest of the people of the state, but this amendment to the Act has been introduced in a limited time and there was no consensus in the Cabinet on it as well. Hence, there is need to consider it in detail again,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said that Radha Soami Satsang had done a commendable job during the Covid outbreak.

“This institution had also requested previous governments to amend the land holding Act but the law could not be changed to benefit any one institution. This subject is very broad, as cases were also related to the land of the Kings and Maharajas of Himachal under the Land Ceiling Act.

Most of the land of Radha Soami Satsang was donated to it by people, so there is need to investigate and consider all these issues in detail. This issue had come up before the past three governments as well but none of them took the initiative to amend the law. It also came up during our government but we limited it only to a Cabinet discussion,” he added.

Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, while participating in the discussion, said that Radha Soami Satsang enjoyed the faith of common people.

“Both Congress and BJP want to help this institution but after the implementation of the Land Ceiling Act, 1972, a limit was fixed over landholding due to which big landowners could keep only limited land and the remaining land was vested with the government.

This is one of the most important laws and has been challenged in court earlier also. People coming from other states are getting benami land registered and this needs to be seriously considered, as it can have serious consequences,” he added.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said, “Many institutions have also been given such an exemption earlier. The PK Dhumal government did not even bring an amendment and gave exemption just by issuing a notification.”

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the previous BJP government had given land worth crore of rupees to big industrialists in Baddi on the lease of Re one “but we want to give exemption to a hospital.

The amendment has been brought under the ambit of law and not for industrialists”. “Two BJP MLAs are sitting on dharna in favour or Radha Soami Satsang while the Opposition is opposing the amendment in the House,” he added.

The Chamba district authorities have received proposals for the creation of 47 new panchayats ahead of the panchayat elections slated at the end of the next year.

The District Panchayati Raj Department has sent all necessary details to the Directorate of Panchayati Raj, awaiting final approval from the government.

Currently, the district has 309 gram panchayats. Before 2020-21 number of panchayats in Chamba was 283. Before the last panchayati elections, 26 new panchayats were created, increasing the total to 309. With the new proposals, the count is likely to rise further before the next elections.

Maximum 11 proposals to create new panchayats have been received from Bhattiyat block. Similarly, eight new panchayats have been proposed in Mehla Development Block and seven each in Chamba and Bharmour blocks each and, six in Salooni block.

Two new panchayats each have also been proposed in Tissa and Pangi Development Blocks.

The proposals for the reorganisation of panchayats have been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office for review and subsequently forwarded to the Directorate of Panchayati Raj, said District Panchayat Officer Manish adding that the state government would take the final call.

This reorganisation is expected to streamline governance and improve the delivery of public services, especially in the larger and more densely populated regions of the district.

The HP High Court yesterday granted one week to a Deputy Advocate General for the state to obtain instructions regarding the status of the process to fill the posts of Junior Office Assistant (JAO).

During the course of hearing, the court was informed that the Finance Department had already concurred with the Administrative Department’s proposal for filling 400 posts of JOA in the Education Department in the first phase subject to the completion of all codel formalities and the approval of the Cabinet.

On the other hand, the Deputy Advocate General contended that since the process of restructuring schools was underway, it would not be possible to fill the posts.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya rejected the submissions of the state counsel and stated that “we do not find any substance in the arguments of the Deputy Advocate General, given the fact that 767 posts are lying vacant and it cannot be disputed that these are functional posts.

Furthermore, the process to fill at least half of the total number of posts can be initiated when the restructuring is to take place before the commencement of the new academic session.”

The court granted a week to the Deputy Advocate General to obtain instructions on the issue and listed the matter for further hearing on December 26. The court passed the order on a public interest litigation relating to the filling of more than 2,000 posts of JOA and Librarian in the state.

Ruling and Opposition members levelled allegations and counter allegations of corruption against each other during a debate on the issue on the first day of the winter session of the Assembly today.

As soon the winter session started at 11 am, BJP’s Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma got up and demanded a discussion on an adjournment motion moved by him under Rule 67 of the Himachal Assembly Conduct Rules.

Sharma had moved the adjournment motion demanding a discussion on the issue of corruption in the past two years of the Congress rule. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania urged Sharma to take up the issue after the Question Hour. However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged the Speaker to allow a debate on Sharma’s motion, which was accepted.

Sharma, while initiating the debate, raised the issue of the purchase of private land by two individuals, who were allegedly close to the Chief Minister, for Rs 2.60 lakh. The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) later acquired the land for Rs 6.72 crore.

The Chief Minister said that the MLA was raising the issue due to infighting in the BJP. He alleged that people who had purchased the land were close to a BJP MP.

“The two individuals had purchased the land measuring 80 bighas for Rs 2.6 lakh in 2015 but paid a stamp duty of Rs 4.75 lakh.

When the HRTC acquired the land, the circle rate of the land had increased, as the road along which it was located was converted into a four-lane highway of the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI).

Sharma alleged large scale corruption in the allotment of liquor vends in the state. He said that the Congress government had clubbed vends in various districts to benefit a few persons, causing revenue loss to the state exchequer.

He added that the government had adopted the policy of minimum sale price instead of maximum sale price on liquor bottles, which led to corruption.

Congress’ Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi, while participating the debate, said that due to the new excise policy adopted by the present government, the revenue had increased to Rs 600 crore per annum.

During the previous BJP government, the revenue from liquor was about Rs 150 crore per annum, he claimed.

Sharma also alleged that Kangra Central Cooperative Bank had waived the loan of a former Congress MLA, leading to corruption.

He said that the Congress leader owed Rs 5.97 crore but his debt was settled for Rs 2.62 crore. The bank waived Rs 3.35 crore loan payable by the Congress leader, he claimed.

Awasthi countered the allegation saying the bank had settled the loan of the Congress leader as per the RBI policy and there was no corruption.

The issue of the payment made to a hydroelectric power project that led to the court attaching the Himachal Bhawan also came up for discussion with both BJP and Congress MLAs levelling allegations against each other for mismanaging the case.

Other issues such illegal felling of trees, exports, misappropriation of funds in JICA and IDB projects, High Court order on the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) properties and corruption in the Public Works (PWD) and Panchayati Raj department works in the Banjar Assembly constituency also came up for discussion.

Face off over land acquired by HRTC

Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma raised the issue of the purchase of private land for Rs 2.60 lakh by two individuals, who were allegedly close to the Chief Minister, and the HRTC later acquiring it for Rs 6.72 crore

Sukhu countered the charge saying the MLA was raising the issue due to infighting in the BJP, as people, who had purchased the land, were close to an opposition MP
Sharma alleged Kangra Central Cooperative Bank had settled a Rs 5.97 crore debt of a former Congress MLA for Rs 2.62 crore

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday debated the issue of corruption in the state with the ruling and Opposition members levelling allegations and counter allegations against each other.

As soon as the winter session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly started today at 11 am, the BJP MLA from Naina Devi Randhir Sharma demanded a discussion on an adjournment motion moved by him under Rule 67 of the Himachal Assembly conduct rules. Randhir had moved an adjournment motion demanding discussion of the issue of corruption in the last two years of the Congress rule.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu accepted the proposal. The Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania urged the BJP MLA to take up the issue after Question Hour.

Randhir, while initiating the debate, alleged that issue of purchase of private land by two individuals were close to CM at a cost of Rs 2.60 lakh. The land was later acquired by the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) at a cost of Rs 6.72 crore.

The CM, replying to the allegation, said that the issue was being raised due to infighting in the BJP.

He added that people who purchased land were close to a BJP MP.

The CM said that the two individuals had purchased the land in question for Rs 2.6 lakh in the year 2015. Though the individuals had purchased the land for Rs 2.6 lakh, at that time they had paid a stamp duty of Rs 4.75 lakh. The land size of 80 biggas. When the HRTC acquired the land, the circle rates of land in the area had increased as the road on which it was located was converted into four lane NHAI road.

Randhir also alleged large scale corruption in allotment of liquor vends in the state. He said that the present government had clubbed vends in various districts to benefit a few persons that has led to loss the state exchequer.

Randhir that government has resorted to policy of Minimum Sale Price from Maximum Sale Price on liquor bottles in the state that was led to corruption.

Congress MLA Sanjay Awasthi, while replying to the allegation, said that due to new excise policy adopted by the present government, the revenue has gone up to Rs 600 crores per annum. During the stint of the BJP in power, the revenue from liquor remained at about Rs 150 crores per annum, he said.

Randhir also alleged that loan of a former Congress MLA was waived off by Kangra Central Cooperative Bank leading corruption. He alleged that the leader owed Rs 5.97 crores. During the stint of present Congress government, his loan was settled at about Rs 2.62 crore. The bank waived off Rs 3.35 crore loan for the Congress leader, he said.

Sanjay Awasthi, while replying to the allegation, said that the loan of the Congress leader was settled as per the RBI policy by the bank and there was no corruption in it.

The issue of payment made to hydroelectric project that led to court attaching Himachal Bhavan also came up during the debate with both the BJP and Congress MLAs levelling allegations against each other for mismanaging the case.

The other issues that came for discussion during debate over corruption, including illegal felling of trees and export from state, misappropriation of funds in JICA and IDB projects, High order on Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation properties and corruption in PWD and Panchayati Raj works in Banjar assembly constituency.

Cold wave is likely at isolated places in the state over the next five days even as the weather will largely remain dry over the next one week.

The cold wave is most likely at isolated places in the districts of Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur. From December 17 onwards, some places in district Kangra are also likely to experience cold wave.

Currently, several places are experiencing lower than average minimum temperatures in the state.

Mandi and Hamirpur recorded minimum temperature below minus four degree than normal, while Una was minus 3.5 degree less than normal. The lowest temperature was recorded at Tabo, at minus 10.6 degree Celsius.

On the other hand, the maximum temperatures of most of the stations have gone appreciable above normal in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the rain deficiency in the state after October has gone reached minus 96 per cent. With the weather likely to remain dry this month, the deficiency is likely to increase even further.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is geared up to ensure continued road connectivity in Lahaul and Spiti district during the winter months, when the region receives heavy snowfall.

With the onset of the winter, the BRO has deployed a fleet of 32 machines, along with a workforce of 200 personnel, to clear snow and keep the key roads open for the local population.

According to BRO sources, the Tandi-Darcha road and the Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road in the district are being prioritised for snow-clearing operations during winter months. These crucial routes provide essential transportation links for residents, ensuring access to remote areas even amid severe winter weather.

The Tandi-Darcha road serves as the lifeline for the residents of Darcha, a village located on the Manali-Leh highway and is the last gram panchayat in Lahaul and Spiti district. This road is critical for both local traffic and the transportation of goods to this far-flung area, which is isolated for much of the winter. The Sansari-Tandi road, on the other hand, provides vital connectivity to the remote Pangi region of Chamba district, ensuring that the people there are not cut off during heavy snowfall.

To tackle the challenges posed by heavy snowfall, the BRO has stationed 11 machines at Satingri and 21 at Udaipur. These machines will be mobilised as and when needed to clear snow in the coming days and keep these roads open for the local population.

The opening of the Atal Tunnel on the Manali-Leh highway has been a game-changer for the region, significantly improving access to the snowbound Lahaul valley year-round. Since its opening, the BRO has continued dedicated efforts to ensure that road connectivity is maintained despite the challenging geography and heavy snowfall.

The decline in enrolment in government schools continues. As compared to the last academic session (2023-24), the number of students from Class I to VIII has dropped by over 50,000 in the current academic session.

As against 4.80 lakh students in the last academic session up to Class VIII, there are 4.26 lakh students in the current academic session.

Incidentally, the enrolment in the government schools has been declining over the past many years. From a robust strength of around six lakh students during 2003-2004 in primary classes, the number has come down to mere 2.36 lakh students, a decline of around 60 per cent.

In the same period, the enrolment in the upper primary section (Class VI to VIII) has dropped from around 3.75 lakh to around 1.90 lakh students, a drop of around 50 per cent.

While the exodus to private schools continues to be a major reason for the declining enrolment in government schools, Elementary Education Director Ashish Kohli points out two more factors – fixing six years age for admission to Class I and the declining total fertility rate in the state – as the possible reasons for the decline in enrolment in this academic session.

“As we have fixed the minimum age as six years for admission to Class I, as per the Right to Education Act, many children may not have been able to take admission this year. These children will enter the primary section next year.

Also, our total fertility rate is declining consistently, which means we have lesser children now than a few years ago,” he added. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) indicates the number of children a woman will give birth to in her lifetime. If the TFR is 2.1, the population will remain stable.

As per the department’s data, the population in the 6-14 year age group is declining steadily – from nearly 12 lakh in 2017, the population in this age group will be between 9 lakh and 10 lakh in 2030.

As per the National health Mission, Himachal Pradesh, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the state has slipped to 1.5, much below the replacement rate of 2.1. It was 1.9 in the National Family Health Survey-4 in 2015-16, 1.7 in the NFHS-5 in 2019-21, and now it has further slipped to 1.5. At present, Himachal figures among the states having the lowest TFR in the country. “We will discuss the decline in enrolment and the possible reasons with the higher authorities to come up with an appropriate strategy,” says Kohli.