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Baddi’s ambient air quality index very poor, climbs to 345

At 345, Baddi’s ambient air quality (AQI) was rated very poor this evening by the Central Pollution Control Board’s online monitoring system.

This industrial cluster figures among 29 other cities, including Chandigarh, nationally where the AQI breached the 300 mark today.

The AQI above 300 is considered hazardous which puts the sensitive population at a grave health risk. The index is a measure of particulate matter, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and ammonia.

Prior to this, the AQI was 333 for Baddi on Saturday. It had shown a marginal improvement in the last two days with the index reaching 319 on Monday. The prevailing situation has once again triggered health concerns of the sensitive population.

Smog can be seen enveloping this industrial cluster where vehicular emission is considered the major contributor to the poor air quality. Since the area houses the largest chunk of the state’s industries, it has a big chunk of diesel-run industrial vehicles which emit noxious fumes. The industrial emissions also contribute significantly to the poor air quality, apart from the pollution caused by construction activities.

With work to four-lane Baddi-Nalagarh highway being underway, dust can be seen flying on dry roads in the absence of adequate sprinkling of water.

The prevailing dry weather since September has exacerbated the situation.

Baddi is among three industrial clusters of the state which was declared highly polluted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India. Kala Amb and Parwanoo were the other two highly polluted industrial clusters.

he town also figures among the non-attainment cities nationally where air pollution has failed to confirm to the norms for more than five years at a stretch.

Grave health risk

The AQI above 300 is considered hazardous which puts the sensitive population at a grave health risk
The index is a measure of particulate matter, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and ammonia

Centre’s duty to ensure Shanan Power Project’s return to HP: Shanta

The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat releasing a novel written by former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Shanta Kumar, in New Delhi on March 23, 2006.

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar yesterday reiterated that it was the responsibility of the Central Government to ensure that the Punjab Government returned the Shanan Power Project located at Jogindernagar in Mandi district to Himachal Pradesh after its lease agreement expired in March this year.

He added that Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s recent statement in Shimla that the Central Government would be neutral on the issue was uncalled for. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to safeguard the interests of Himachal Pradesh.

Shanta Kumar said that as per the provisions of the States’ Reorganisation Act, 1966, after the expiry of the lease agreement in March, the Himachal Pradesh Government became the rightful owner of the Shanan Power Project.

He highlighted the historical oversight during the 1966 reorganisation of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

Though the Reorganisation Act stipulated an equitable distribution of resources, Himachal Pradesh was yet to receive its fair share of assets from Chandigarh and various power projects.

He said that the Act clearly intended that Punjab’s properties should be redistributed to the newly formed state, yet the Shanan Power Project remained an exception.

Though it is located in Himachal, Punjab had its overall control, illustrating injustice done to the state. He added that after the lease agreement expired, the Punjab Government moved the Supreme Court.

“Earlier, the Himachal Government had fought a long legal battle in the Supreme Court to get its due share from BBMB projects located in Himachal Pradesh, which was getting an ad-hoc share,” he added.

Shanta Kumar said that when he was the Chief Minister of the state, he had raised these issue with the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977. Though the matter was raised continuously with prominent national leaders during protests in Delhi, the injustice persisted for over five decades.

He appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for fighting a legal battle in the Supreme Court by engaging top lawyers.

He said that since Himachal Pradesh was a small state with only four MPs in the Lok Sabha, “its voice goes unheard and powerful states continue to dominate”.

Himachal high court sets aside appointment of 6 chief parliamentary secretaries

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday termed as unconstitutional the appointment of six chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) and ordered their immediate removal along with all benefits and perks.

A division bench of the High Court headed by Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander gave the final order. Two separate petitions had been filed challenging the appointment of the six CPS, including a PIL by Kalpana Devi and the other by 11 BJP legislators, including Sat Pal Satti.

The High Court also set aside the Act under which the appointment of the CPS had been made. The court termed the appointment of the CPS as wastage of public funds while ordering immediate withdrawal of all facilities extended to them.

The six CPS whose appointment has been ordered are Kishori Lal (Baijnath in Kangra), Mohan Lal Brakta (Rampur in Shimla), Ram Kumar (Doon in Solan), Ashish Butail (Palampur in Kangra), Sunder Thakur (Kullu) and Sanjay Awashty (Arki in Solan).

The six CPS had been appointed on January 8, 2023 just before the induction of seven ministers in the cabinet by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

It was on August 18, 2005 that the High Court had set aside the appointment of eight CPS and four parliamentary secretaries.

Those who were removed in 2005 were Mukesh Agnihotri, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Anita Verma, Prem Singh, Tek Chand, Harsh Wardhan Chauhan, Lajja Ram and Harbhajan Singh. The four parliamentary secretaries were Jagat Singh Negi, Surinder Kumar, Sudhir Sharma and Raghubir Singh.

Advocate General Anup Rattan said the state government would challenge the High Court order of terming the post of CPS and PS as unconstitutional in the Supreme Court. “Since the Act in Himachal is different from the Act in Assam, where too the appointment of the CPS has been set aside, the state government will challenge the order in the apex court,” the AG said.

Rattan said that unlike in Assam, in Himachal the CPS or PS were not giving any approval on files while in Assam they were exercising the powers of ministers. In Himachal, the CPS only advised the ministers.

2 Mandi cops arrested for bribery

Arrested man in handcuffs with handcuffed hands behind back in prison

Two policemen from Padhar police station in this district were arrested on Monday for bribery.

Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar, the SHO of Padhar police station, and Head Constable Ashwani Kumar were taken into custody following a sting operation by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

A complaint was filed by Virender Kumar, a resident of Gawali village in Padhar tehsil. Kumar accused the two cops of demanding money in exchange for helping him resolve a case against him.

Bureau SP Kulbhushan Verma said a trap was laid after receiving the complaint and SI Ashok Kumar caught accepting Rs 15,000 from the complainant. The cash was recovered and the two cops arrested.

The cops were presented in a court, where they were remanded in police custody for three days, said Verma.

Govt approved 6,000 posts of teacher, focusing on improving infra: Sukhu

Big-administrative-reshuffle-may-happen-as-soon-as-CM-Sukhu-returns-from-Delhi

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government had approved the recruitment of 6,000 teachers and 3,000 posts of these had already been filled.

Instead of opening new schools, the government was focusing on improving infrastructure and providing staff at existing educational institutions to ensure quality education, he added.

He earlier inaugurated the annual fair at the Bhureshvar Mahadev Temple in the Pachhad Assembly constituency of Sirmaur district. He unveiled a new idol of Lord Shiva at the temple and inaugurated two development projects: the Van Vatika Bhureshvar and the Kwagdhar helipad.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a gathering, announced that the Lwasa Chowki-Chandigarh road would be widened to improve accessibility and enhance tourism.

He said that considering the eco-tourism potential of the Bhureshvar Mahadev area, new development projects would create jobs and stimulate self-employment opportunities, directly benefiting the local economy.

He said that the state government was committed to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by 2027 and transforming it into one of the most prosperous states by 2032. He added that ongoing economic reforms would set the state’s economy on the path of positive growth.

Sukhu emphasised various initiatives to boost rural livelihoods, including the hike in the prices of agricultural and dairy products.

The state was now offering Rs 40 per kilogram for naturally-farmed wheat and Rs 30 for maize, he said. Additionally, the minimum support price (MSP) for cow milk had been raised from Rs 32 a litre to Rs 45 a litre while the buffalo milk was now fetching Rs 55 per litre.

Furthermore, the daily wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had been increased to Rs 300.

Sukhu highlighted the state government’s approach to promoting education and healthcare. He claimed that the previous BJP government had opened schools without providing adequate budget, and as a result Himachal Pradesh’s national ranking in education fell to the 21st position.

“While addressing these shortcomings remains a challenging task, public support is crucial for the success of our reforms,” he added.

The Chief Minister assured the gathering that the state government was resolute in its mission to overcome obstacles and achieve progress in all sectors.

After a month’s dry spell, forecast of rain, snowfall in mid, high hills yesterday

Finally, the prolonged dry spell can end soon. After the rainless October — the month saw minus 97 per cent deficient rainfall – and 100 per cent deficiency in the first 10 days of the current month.

There’s a possibility of rain and snow at isolated places in the mid and high hills of the state tomorrow. Also, as per the forecast, very dense fog is likely over many parts of the reservoir area of Bhakra dam and over many parts of Balh valley during late night hours.

However, as per the department, the next few days after tomorrow are again likely to be dry, which will be a cause of concern for the farmers and horticulturalists. Already, the dry spell has delayed the sowing of Rabi crops, mainly cereals like wheat, barley and gram, across the state.

The sowing season for these cereals begins from October 15 onwards, but lack of rains for more than a month now has forced the farmers to delay the sowing. Until a few days back, just about 10 per cent sowing of wheat had been done.

As per the experts, the time for the early-sown variety of wheat is running out in the absence of rains. It is sown from October 15 to November 15.

In case there’s not enough moisture in the land by November 15, the farmers have to shift mid and late-sown varieties. “The delayed sowing could have some impact on the overall yield. With delayed sowing, the growing period gets shorter and the overall production is affected,” said an agriculture official.

Unlike cereals, there’s not much impact yet on vegetable grown at this time. As per the agriculture officials, vegetables are cultivated mostly where the farmers have water for irrigation. Nevertheless, the farmers who have sown garlic are facing some problems as the germination of garlic has been affected by the lack of moisture in the soil.

4 houses gutted in fire in Shimla’s Rohru; marriage function was on in one house

Four houses were gutted in a fire that broke out in Seri village in Shimla district’s Rohru subdivision in the early hours of Monday.

A cow was burnt alive, no loss of life was reported in the incident. One of the houses caught fire and it soon spread to adjoining houses as gas cylinders kept in the kitchen they exploded. A marriage function was going on in one of the houses engulfed in the fire.

Four fire tenders were rushed in and it took almost three-and-a-half hours to bring it under control. Losses incurred are being assessed and arrangements for stay and other basic necessities are being made. An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire, police said, adding that preliminary reports hint at an electrical short-circuit.

Special arrangements to ferry visitors to Shri Renuka Ji Fair

Renuka-Ji-tourist-place-himachal-pradesh-sirmaur

The International Shri Renuka Ji Fair, starting on November 11, will have expanded transport services with 10 additional buses deployed to accommodate visitors.

The district administration has coordinated with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) to ensure reliable transportation from remote parts of the district to the fairground, enhancing accessibility for attendees.

The Nahan depot would provide two buses, while eight additional buses have been brought from the Shimla division to accommodate visitors at the fair.

The HRTC has pledged to maintain regular bus service on all routes, with additional buses ready to operate as needed during the peak hours. This year, fewer buses from other depots will be available due to the overlap of the Shri Renuka Ji Fair and the Lavi Fair in Rampur Bushahr on the same day.

Last year, 14 extra buses were sourced from outside depots, but the coinciding events have limited this year’s transportation capacity.

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has issued temporary permits for about half a dozen private buses to maintain the service during the fair. However, no buses have been arranged from neighbouring towns in Haryana, such as Yamunanagar, Ambala, Naraingarh, Raipur Rani, Bilaspur, Panchkula and Barwala for the fair.

This year, the focus would be solely on deploying buses from within the district to ferry visitors to the fairground.

To ease congestion, the Renuka police have made a traffic management plan. Buses from Nahan would be parked near Jalal Bridge in Dadahu, while buses arriving from Sangrah would be stationed along the Sangrah route.

Besides, buses from the Chandni and Khalakyar areas would be parked on the main road just before reaching fairground.

Anshik Sharma, Acting Regional Manager, HRTC, said eight extra buses from the Shimla division would be deployed to ferry visitors.

He said all routes would be closely monitored and efforts would be made to connect more rural areas with bus service. If necessary, the Nahan depot was prepared to increase its bus fleet to meet the demand for ferrying more visitors, Sharma added.

Shanan project in shambles as HP, Punjab govts try to wrest its control

The British-era Shanan hydropower project situated in Jogindernagar, 40 km from here, is in a shambles due to the alleged apathy of the Punjab Government.

It may be recalled that the 99-year lease of the project has already expired in March, when the project was to be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Government in March.

However, the Punjab Government has moved the Supreme Court staking its claim on the Shanan power house even after the expiry of the lease.

During the reorganisation of the states in 1966, the Shanan power house was given to Punjab by the Central Government as at that time the lease agreement was yet to expire.

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has already stated that the state government would fight the legal battle in the Supreme Court till the logical end and he was in no mood to leave the property to Punjab.

Punjab Govt’s lease period of the project of expired in March, when the project was to be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Government

However, the Punjab Government has moved the Supreme Court staking its claim on the Shanan power house even after the expiry of the lease
Came up during british rule

During the British regime in 1925, the Shanan hydroelectric power house was constructed under a 99-year lease executed between Joginder Sen, the then rule of Mandi State and Col BC Batty, a British representative

The British laid a small gauge rail line between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar to transport heavy machinery to the Shanan project

A haulage rail network starting from Jogindernagar to Barot was constructed; a ropeway trolley, one of its type in the country, was also constructed

One of the oldest power houses of the country, it used to feed the entire undivided Punjab, Lahore and Delhi before independenc During the British regime in 1925, the Shanan hydroelectric power house was constructed under a 99-year lease executed between Joginder Sen, the then ruler of the Mandi state, and Col BC Batty, a British representative.

The project was constructed in the backdrop of dense deodar forests with a four-stage haulage rail network starting from Jogindernagar to Barot, a cup-shaped village on the bank of the Uhl river. The tail water of the Uhal river is being used for two power projects run by the state government.

The British had also laid a small gauge rail line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar to transport heavy machinery to

the Shanan project. A ropeway trolley, one of the first in the country, was also constructed.

The Shanan power house is one of the oldest of its type in the country. It used to supply electricity to the entire undivided Punjab and Delhi before the Independence. The sprawling Shanan power house is, in fact, a unique project in the country and its marvelous setting has made it more of a tourist spot than a mere electricity project.

Thousands of tourists from across the world and the country, including top film stars and other dignitaries, visit Barot to enjoy the ride of the haulage trolleys up to Barot.

“The infrastructure of the project is in a poor condition. It seems that the Punjab Government would only hand over ruins of the project to the state government,” said sources.

Shanan project in shambles as HP, Punjab govts try to wrest its control
The British-era Shanan hydropower project situated in Jogindernagar, 40 km from here, is in a shambles due to the alleged apathy of the Punjab Government. It may be recalled that the 99-year lease of the project has already expired in…

The British-era Shanan hydropower project situated in Jogindernagar, 40 km from here, is in a shambles due to the alleged apathy of the Punjab Government.

It may be recalled that the 99-year lease of the project has already expired in March, when the project was to be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Government in March.

The Shanan project is located in Jogindernagar.
However, the Punjab Government has moved the Supreme Court staking its claim on the Shanan power house even after the expiry of the lease. During the reorganisation of the states in 1966, the Shanan power house was given to Punjab by the Central Government as at that time the lease agreement was yet to expire.

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has already stated that the state government would fight the legal battle in the Supreme Court till the logical end and he was in no mood to leave the property to Punjab.

Punjab Govt’s lease period of the project of expired in March, when the project was to be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Government
However, the Punjab Government has moved the Supreme Court staking its claim on the Shanan power house even after the expiry of the lease Came up during british rule

During the British regime in 1925, the Shanan hydroelectric power house was constructed under a 99-year lease executed between Joginder Sen, the then rule of Mandi State and Col BC Batty, a British representative
The British laid a small gauge rail line between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar to transport heavy machinery to the Shanan project
A haulage rail network starting from Jogindernagar to Barot was constructed; a ropeway trolley, one of its type in the country, was also constructed
One of the oldest power houses of the country, it used to feed the entire undivided Punjab, Lahore and Delhi before independence
During the British regime in 1925, the Shanan hydroelectric power house was constructed under a 99-year lease executed between Joginder Sen, the then ruler of the Mandi state, and Col BC Batty, a British representative.

The project was constructed in the backdrop of dense deodar forests with a four-stage haulage rail network starting from Jogindernagar to Barot, a cup-shaped village on the bank of the Uhl river. The tail water of the Uhal river is being used for two power projects run by the state government.

The British had also laid a small gauge rail line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar to transport heavy machinery to

the Shanan project. A ropeway trolley, one of the first in the country, was also constructed.

The Shanan power house is one of the oldest of its type in the country. It used to supply electricity to the entire undivided Punjab and Delhi before the Independence. The sprawling Shanan power house is, in fact, a unique project in the country and its marvelous setting has made it more of a tourist spot than a mere electricity project.

Thousands of tourists from across the world and the country, including top film stars and other dignitaries, visit Barot to enjoy the ride of the haulage trolleys up to Barot.

“The infrastructure of the project is in a poor condition. It seems that the Punjab Government would only hand over ruins of the project to the state government,” said sources.

“Unfortunately the Punjab Government and the PSEB seem to have finished the beautiful the Shanan complex, including rail lines and haulage way trucks and trolleys. The trolley service has been suspended,” said former Himachal Chief Minister Shanta Kumar.

“The ropes and pulleys of haulage way have rusted and decayed for want of maintenance forgetting that this marvelous and heritage monument should be preserved and protected for the future generations,” he added.

Paragliding World Cup concludes at Bir-Billing

Town and Country Planning, Housing, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani today gave away prizes to the winners of the Paragliding World Cup that ended at Bir-Billing.

world champion

Dharmani, who was the chief guest at the closing ceremony, was accompanied by Kishori Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

Highlighting that organising the world cup at Bir-Billing was a matter of great pride for the state, Dharmani said it could happen only with special cooperation of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and the state government.

He said the Bir Paragliding Association (BPA) deserved to be congratulated for successfully organising the event without any major accident. He thanked all foreign pilots who took part in the competition from all over the world.

He said Himachal was full of scenic locations and the government was giving special emphasis on strengthening the tourism infrastructure of the state.

He said it had already been announced to make Kangra district the tourism capital of the state. He opined that the zoo at Bankhandi, expansion of Kangra airport and the construction of a world-class golf course would strengthen tourism in Kangra district.

Dharmani also said on the lines of Gobind Sagar lake, water sports and adventure tourism would also be started at the Pong Dam of Kangra district.

He said the state was promoting religious and adventure tourism in the state to woo domestic as well as international tourists.

He said the Chief Minister was to attend the closing ceremony, but due to his prior engagements in Delhi, he could not come. He said the Chief Minister had assured all possible help to the BPA.

Samosa politics heats up in Himachal; BJP MLA orders 11 samosas online for CM Sukhu

With samosa politics heating up in Himachal Pradesh, a BJP MLA has ordered 11 samosas online for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Taking a dig at the state’s Congress government over CID conducting an enquiry into the sequence of events that led to samosas brought for the chief minister being served to his security staff, Ashish Sharma, the MLA from Hamirpur, shared this information on social media on Saturday.

However, the Congress maintained that the state government had not ordered any such inquiry and it could be an internal matter of CID. A top CID official has also said that no formal inquiry was ordered into the incident.

“The state is already grappling with problems like unemployment, financial crisis, delay in employees’ pension and arrears of DA allowance and at such a time, ordering a CID inquiry on samosas brought for Chief Minister Sukhu is very disappointing,” Sharma said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

He said when the people of the hill state are fighting for their rights, the government should focus on real issues and not on such small matters.

“In protest against this, I have sent 11 samosas to the chief minister, so that I can remind him that it is more important to solve the real problems of the people,” he added.

On October 21, Sukhu had gone to attend a programme at the CID headquarters in Shimla, where samosas and cakes brought for the chief minister were served to his staff instead.

Subsequently, CID officials ordered an inquiry into the episode. A noting by a senior official on the inquiry report said the act was anti-government and anti-CID.

Sudhir Sharma, BJP MLA from Dharamsala, in a statement, said the Congress government has made Himachal Pradesh a laughing stock in the country.

Both the MLAs are known critics of Sukhu. They were among the nine legislators, including the Congress rebels and Independent MLAs, who had voted against the Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls earlier in the year. They later joined BJP and won bypolls.

State BJP vice-president and Kangra MP Rajiv Bhardwaj asked what was inside the box, along with the samosas, that prompted the government to order an enquiry.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of BJP, distributed samosas in Shimla on Saturday and raised slogans against the government for ignoring serious issues and probing petty matters.

State BJYM president Tilak Raj said people are unhappy with the government, educated and unemployed youngsters do not have jobs, but CID is probing non-serving of samosas.

He claimed that the law-and-order situation has deteriorated in the state, drug abuse is on the rise among youngsters, including school-going children, of the 1,170 youngsters in the age group of 15-30 years admitted at rehabilitation centres, 35 per cent are “chitta” addicts, but the government is not bothered.

State BJP media in-charge Karan Nanda said the government has failed on all fronts. Himachal Pradesh, which was known as “dev bhoomi”, is in news for all the wrong reasons, such as toilet tax, freight tax and an inquiry into samosas, he said.

On the other hand, the Congress leaders accused BJP of raising the controversy only to harass the chief minister politically.

A Congress spokesperson said BJP is bent upon harming the cause of the state government.

Naresh Chauhan, media advisor to the chief minister, said the state government did not order any such inquiry and it could be an internal matter of CID, a stance maintained by the agency as well.

Sukhu had on Friday said the probe was into the “misbehaviour” of officials but the media presented it as an enquiry into missing samosas and claimed that BJP has been running a smear campaign against the Congress government since his party secured a majority in the Assembly election.

Reiterating that it was an internal matter, CID Director General Ranjhan Ojha said in Shimla on Friday, “The chief minister was the chief guest at the launch of a data centre for the cybercrime wing. After the event, the officials were having tea in the office when someone asked where were the eatables brought for the function and we said — ‘pata karo kya hua’”.

“Neither have we issued any notice nor called for any explanation. The matter should not be politicised. We simply asked for a clarification as to what happened and a written report was submitted. We have no intention of taking action against anyone.”

Drugs authority halts narcotic output at Baddi pharma unit amid CID probe

State Drug Controller Manish Kapoor confirmed, “After receiving information from the state CID, a show-cause notice was issued to the company at Baddi.

However, the firm’s response was unsatisfactory, leading us to halt production and sales of the implicated products.”

Products such as tramadol, nitrazepam and alprazolam were manufactured by the company, with tramadol sales under particular scrutiny.

The CID investigation revealed that large quantities of tramadol were allegedly diverted by a trader based in Una, who distributed them illegally in states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar.

An FIR was filed in October by the state CID’s anti-narcotics task force after discovering that the unit produced substantial quantities of psychotropic drugs within months and sold in states with suspected tax evasion.

The CID reported the drugs were allegedly under-priced, raising tax concerns. Tramadol, an opioid pain reliever, is widely abused for its sedative effects.

The CID has directed the firm to halt distribution of existing stock until the investigation concludes.

Samosa controversy: Do not politicise it, says Himachal Pradesh CID

Caught in the ‘samosa and cake’ controversy, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) here on Friday tried to downplay the incident by terming it as an internal matter and urged everyone not to politicise the matter.

“It is our department’s internal matter. The government has nothing to do with it,” said Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, Director General (DG), CID.

Meanwhile, the BJP has gone all out in slamming the government and the CID for “ordering an inquiry into missing ‘samosas’ and turning a blind eye to the cases that warrant its attention”.

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The controversy erupted on Thursday evening when it came to light that the CID had ordered a probe into how the snacks ordered for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu landed in the plates of his security staff instead when he came to office on October 21.

More than the probe, it was the noting of a senior officer on the report, who accused the CID personnel named in the inquiry of having acted in an ‘anti-CID’ and ‘anti-government’ manner.

In an apparent attempt to play down the ‘samosa’ storm, the DG said that merely verbal orders were issued to find out what happened to the snacks ordered for the chief minister.

No inquiry has been ordered, no explanation has been sought and no action will be taken against anyone. People should refrain from escalating and politicising the matter. It’s our internal matter and it’s not appropriate to use it to target anyone,” he said.

The BJP, though, seemed in no mood to take the DG’s advice as it has gone all out to use the controversy and put both the government and the CID in the dock.

Power Ministry to take impartial stand on HP-Punjab dispute over Shanan project: Khattar

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has assured that the Union Power Ministry will take an impartial stand on the dispute between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab over the 110 MW Shanan project, adhering strictly to the law.

This comes after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu sought the Union Government’s intervention in securing the project’s return from Punjab, citing the expiration of Punjab’s lease period.

The Shanan project, located near Jogindernagar in Mandi district, has been a point of contention between the two states. Himachal Pradesh claims that since the lease has ended, the project should be transferred to the state, along with its assets. However, Punjab has moved the Supreme Court, seeking to retain control.

Khattar emphasised that the Centre will act impartially and file an affidavit in the Supreme Court. He also assured that a joint meeting will be convened with all stakeholder states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, to resolve Himachal’s demand for a 7.19 per cent share in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Punjab’s lease period for the project has ended and the Union Government must intervene to ensure the project’s transfer to Himachal Pradesh, along with all its assets,” Sukhu said while seeking Khattar’s intervention in the matter. He added that the Shanan project was never part of the erstwhile Punjab, therefore the issue cannot be decided under the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966.

The CM also urged the Union Government to direct BBMB to release 13,066 million units of outstanding power arrears it owed to Himachal from November 1996 to October 2011.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling in favour of the state, Himachal Pradesh is yet to receive its rightful share from the concerned states,” Sukhu said.

Khattar directed officials to expedite the implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in Himachal Pradesh, emphasising that it is crucial for the state to ensure smart metering and reduce power losses. The progress of various urban development schemes funded by the Union Government, including Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Urban Livelihood Mission, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were also discussed.

Centre sets January 15 deadline for SJVNL’s response on power projects

The Centre has given Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL) a deadline of January 15, 2025, to comply with Himachal Pradesh’s energy policy, which mandates enhanced free power.

Failure to comply will result in the state government taking over three power projects: the 210 MW Luhri Phase-1, 382 MW Sunni Project, and 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydropower projects.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made this announcement after meeting Union Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Sukhu emphasised that Himachal Pradesh will not hesitate to reclaim these projects if SJVNL refuses to provide enhanced free power.

“We have been raising the issue of Himachal getting royalty aligned with the state government’s energy policy, which mandates 12 per cent royalty for the first 12 years, 18 per cent for the subsequent 18 years and 30 per cent for the next 10 years in the power projects,” he asserted. Sukhu said when private companies already comply with this policy then the central PSUs should also follow it.

Sukhu added that the state government is willing to reimburse SJVNL for expenses incurred on these projects. He criticised SJVNL for commencing construction without signing an implementation agreement, emphasising that Himachal Pradesh deserves its rightful share from water resources.

The CM has consistently maintained that protecting Himachal’s interests is non-negotiable and has blamed the previous BJP regime for failing to secure enhanced royalty from PSUs like National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), and SJVNL.

Kharge dissolves Himachal Congress unit

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has dissolved the entire Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC).

“The Congress president has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, district presidents and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect,” said AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.

The AICC release, however, does not mention whether HPCC president Pratibha Singh will continue in her role.

Incidentally, Pratibha Singh had sent the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit to the AICC a few days back.

She has said on several occasions that she wanted to reconstitute the Pradesh Congress Committee by bringing in more enthusiastic and committed individuals in places of those who were inactive and were not giving enough time to the organisation.

Malana village in Kullu set to be linked with ropeway

Malana-Village-Himachal-Pradesh

In a huge relief to the flood-hit Malana village in Kullu district, the installation of a ropeway facility to transport essential food supplies is expected to be completed within the next 10 days.

Crisis to be over within next 10 days

The installation work is expected to be completed within next 10 days
The ropeway will resolve the severe transportation crisis faced by the villagers
The cloudburst, which had occurred on July 31, wreaked havoc in the region, particularly devastating the Malana power project and the crucial road linking the village to the rest of Kullu district
The natural disaster resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, blocking road access and severely disrupting essential supplies
Sub Divisional Magistrate Kullu, Vikas Shukla, said that the installation work is in its final stages. While one stretch of the ropeway is already operational, the second stretch, closer to the village, is set to be made operational within a week. This initiative comes as part of the state government’s efforts to address the transportation crisis faced by the villagers, especially after a devastating cloudburst in July 31.

The cloudburst wreaked havoc on the region, particularly affecting the Malana power project and the crucial road linking the village to the rest of Kullu areas. The natural disaster resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, blocking road access and disrupting supply of food and other essential commodities. As a result, prices of essential commodities in the area have skyrocketed, with villagers struggling to avail basic necessities due to the high costs of transporting goods from distant locations.

The state government decided to expedite the installation of two ropeways, recognising the urgent need to restore essential supply chains.

The villagers are anxiously awaiting the ropeway system to be fully operational. Ram Ji, vice pradhan of Malana panchayat, expressed the community’s deep concern, especially as the winter was already setting in. The village is known for heavy snowfall during the winter months, which makes traditional road access even more challenging. Ram Ji stated that without timely delivery of essential supplies, especially rations, the villagers could face a serious shortage in the coming months.

The ropeway is our lifeline. We are desperately waiting for it to be fully operational. With the onset of winter, it will be impossible for supplies to reach us by road. The administration must ensure that essential goods, especially food, reach us on time,” Ram Ji said.

The ropeway, when operational, is expected to provide much-needed relief to villagers, ensuring that they have access to vital supplies even during the harsh winter months.

Groom in Turkiye, bride in Himachal, couple has virtual ‘nikah’

A virtual ‘nikah’ was solemnised in Himachal Pradesh with the groom in Turkiye and the bride in Mandi.

The wedding ceremony of Adnan Muhammad, a resident of Bilaspur, had to be performed virtually as the company for which he works in Turkiye refused to grant him leave, his family said.

Also, the ailing grandfather of the bride insisted that she get married at the earliest, they added.

The family of the groom and the bride agreed to a virtual ‘nikah’ and the barat from Bilaspur reached Mandi on Sunday. The marriage was held on Monday.

The couple connected through video calling and a qazi performed the rituals with the duo saying “qubool hai” thrice.

Akram Mohammad, the uncle of the bride, said the wedding was made possible only due to the advanced technology.

Last year in July, Ashish Singha from Kotgarh in Shimla and Shivani Thakur from Bhuntar in Kullu tied the knot through video-conferencing as the barat could not reach its destination due to landslides and flash floods.

Run Kalka-Shimla heritage train on green hydrogen, CM Sukhu requests Vaishnaw

The Himachal government has urged the Union Ministry of Railways to explore the possibility of running the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO World Heritage train on green hydrogen.

In a letter written to the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the minister to consider transforming this historic rail line into a green energy-powered route.

He added, “The state government aims to make Himachal Pradesh a green energy state by March 31, 2026 and has undertaken several initiatives to achieve this goal,” he stated.

The CM stated that the state government is working on a six-pronged strategy to transform Himachal into a certified Green Energy State.
The state is on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources.
He said that the Himachal government is focussing on solar power generation, with plans to establish a capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years.
Solar power generation has doubled in the last two years, reflecting the government’s commitment to this clean energy source.

Sukhu said the state government is working on a six-pronged strategy to transform Himachal into a certified Green Energy State, contributing significantly to India’s climate commitments and aligning with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This strategic transition will ensure a fair and just shift towards sustainable energy while also boosting the state’s economy, he stated.

The Chief Minister stated that Himachal was on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources, including hydro, solar, and wind power. “Currently, the state consumes 13,500 MUs of power, with a large portion already derived from renewable sources. Achieving 90 percent renewable energy consumption in the power distribution network will enable Himachal Pradesh to be certified as a fully Green State of the country,” said Sukhu.

This transition is expected to be completed within a year and will also allow industries in the state to apply for the ‘Eco Mark’, enhancing the value of their products, he stated.

He said that the Himachal government is focussing on solar power generation, with plans to establish a capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years. Solar power generation has doubled in the last two years, reflecting the government’s commitment to this clean energy source.

The Chief Minister said that, in addition, the state government has launched the ‘Green Panchayat’ scheme, a decentralized renewable energy initiative in the State. Under this scheme, 500 KW grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants are being set up at the panchayat level. Income from the sale of this power will be used to fund eco-friendly and sustainable development projects.

He further said that the state is also making significant progress in the production of ‘Green Hydrogen.’ The first facility, in collaboration with Oil India Limited (OIL), is underway and discussions with private investors for more such facilities are ongoing.

Sukhu said as part of the state’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs), 1,500 buses from the State Transport Corporation’s fleet of 3,200 buses will be replaced with electric buses over the next three years. Additionally, six major National Highways have been developed as green corridors for EVs.

Residents oppose Baddi’s upgrade to corporation

Residents of Baddi are voicing strong opposition to a proposal to upgrade the Baddi Municipal Council to a municipal corporation, asserting it would primarily benefit industrialists and real estate developers while imposing higher taxes on locals.

Community members argue that a corporation would increase the financial burden on residents and have vowed to take legal action if the upgrade proceeds without their consent.

Prominent figures, including former Baddi Municipal Council vice-president Man Singh Mehta, BJP district secretary Gurmail Chawdhary and DS Chandel, a former BJP executive committee member, have publicly denounced the proposal.

They argue the upgrade would serve industrialists and developers exclusively, exacerbating challenges for ordinary residents. A similar attempt to elevate Baddi’s status was previously halted after widespread local protests during a BJP-led administration.

A significant concern raised by these residents is the plan to incorporate 15 gram panchayats, stretching from Kotiyan to Saned, into the proposed corporation. They highlight that these predominantly rural communities are opposed to the change, which they believe disregards their needs and circumstances.

Additionally, residents point out that the population of Baddi itself, estimated at around 29,000 as per the 2011 Census, has not been formally re-evaluated, suggesting the town may not meet the requirements for a corporation. With peripheral areas included, the combined population of Baddi, Barotiwala and 19 surrounding panchayats is estimated between 40,000 and 50,000—only just meeting the minimum criteria.

In contrast, residents of a Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) colony in Mandhala have submitted a request to be included in the upgraded corporation.

According to their representation to the Baddi SDM, Mandhala’s proximity to the Barotiwala industrial area and the urban nature of their community make it a fitting candidate for incorporation.

Led by their colony president, they argue that the area, which spans over 914 bighas and includes 880 residential plots, already possesses essential amenities such as a petrol pump, medical facility, community hall, club, nursery school, shopping centre, and even a police post.

The divergent views underscore the complexity of the proposal, with many fearing the upgrade will add undue tax burdens on locals while primarily catering to industrial and real estate interests.

Meanwhile, urbanised communities on Baddi’s outskirts see potential benefits in being included in the corporation’s jurisdiction, further complicating the decision for local authorities.

The move also has political connotation as a party in the Opposition usually opposes it while that in the ruling usually supports it.

In case the proposal sees the light of the day, a tug-of-war will be unavoidable to hold the coveted post of Mayor, which will be equally significant than an MLA’s post.

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