The higher reaches of the state are expected to witness snowfall from November 22. As per the state’s Meteorological Department, rain and snow are very likely to occur in the higher hills of Chamba and Kangra districts on November 22 and in the higher reaches of Kangra and Kullu districts on November 23.

Meanwhile, weather was mostly dry across the state during the past 24 hours.

The maximum temperature in Shimla was 17.8°C, in Dharamsala (24.5°C), Manali (16.7°C), Kasauli (18.1°C), Solan (23.6°C), Bilaspur (26.3°C), Chamba (24.7°C), Kufri (12.8°C), Narkanda (13.2°C), Nahan (24°C), Bhuntar (25.4°C), Kalpa (15.3°C), Sundernagar (25.6°C), Mandi (23.2°C) and Bilaspur (26.3°C).

The lowest temperature in the state was minus 5.6°C recorded at Tabo in Lahaul and Spiti district while the highest temperature was 27.6°C recorded in Una.

The state Pollution Control Board has imposed a composite fine of Rs 1.73 crore on the Manali Municipal Council for causing polluting the environment and the Beas.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also slapped a fine of Rs 4.6 crore on the MC, and the last date for its submission is December 19.

The decision comes after the High Court of Himachal did not provide relief to the MC. Meanwhile, due to a political turmoil in the MC, the post of the president has been lying vacant since September 25.

The waste from the district was dumped at the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant at Rangri near Manali and various civic bodies paid Re 1 per kg of waste to the MC from 2019 to July 15, 2024. However, the MC officials abstained from divulging the details related to the income received from other civic bodies for the garbage.

Due to this, the legacy waste piled up and now, leachate discharge from this waste was polluting the Beas and the environment.

The MC had also received funds from the Urban Development Department and the government for the removal of legacy waste.

However, the accumulated waste has not been removed despite the MC officials’ claim to have lifted it. The officials stated that machines were being installed by the new contractor, and that problem would soon be resolved.

The waste is being scattered near the national highway. The NGT, in its orders on May 29, had issued directions for the criminal prosecution under Sections 15, 16, 17 and 19 of Environment Protection Act, 1986, as the case might be against Kullu District Magistrate, Manali MC’s Executive Officer and Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department.

The High Court had so far stayed the operation of the impugned order as the instructions were issued regarding the criminal prosecution against the fourth petitioner – the Executive Officer of Manali MC – only. However, the MC has not deposited the fine and neither has the situation regarding the legacy waste improved.

However, residents of Manali are irked by the lackadaisical approach of the MC office-bearers and officials, due to which the civic body will have to bear a fine of around Rs 6 crore. Sanjeev, a resident of Manali, said a huge amount, which could be spent for development, would be used for the purpose of remediation, rejuvenation and restoration of the damaged environment, caused due to negligence of MC office-bearers and officials.

Local social activist Gautam Thakur said that the amount should be recovered from the negligent councillors and officers. The taxpayers of Manali should not be made to bear the brunt of the follies of the MC.

Following a tip-off, the Damtal police in Nurpur police district raided a house at Chhanni village this morning and recovered 91.4 gram of heroin (Chitta) and Rs 38,000 drug money from the possession of Bharat and his younger brother Khanna.

They were arrested by the police and a case under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act was registered against them. The duo were involved in drug peddling in the inter-state border belt.

Ashok Ratan, Superintendent of Police (SP), Nurpur, said Bharat was involved in drug peddling cases in the past too. He said the Indora police in Nurpur and Pathankot police in Punjab had already booked him under the NDPS Act after recovery of heroin from his possession in September 2018 and March 2020, respectively.

The SP said Bharat’s younger brother Khanna was also facing two cases under the NDPS Act. The Damtal police had arrested him in November 2020 and the Indora police had nabbed him in March 2018 after recovering heroin from his possession. —

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced a special relief package for disaster-affected Samej and Bagi areas of Rampur in Shimla district on the pattern of the relief package given last year.

He made this announcement while presiding over the closing ceremony of the four-day International Lavi Fair at Rampur.

He said, “The families, which have lost their homes completely in the disaster, will receive Rs 7 lakh rather than Rs 1.50 lakh while those with partially damaged homes will receive Rs 1 lakh. The state government will provide death certificates and financial assistance to the families of persons, who had gone missing in the disaster.”

Sukhu said that the government had rehabilitated 23,000 affected families last year and provided a special economic package of Rs 4,500 crore without support from the Central Government. He criticised the previous BJP government for allegedly squandering public funds.

Sukhu said that more public welfare schemes would be introduced in the upcoming Budget. He added that while needy families would continue to enjoy subsidy benefits, affluent families would be encouraged to give up such benefits voluntarily.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to strengthening the education and health sectors. “It is the state government’s responsibility to provide education to each child but without proper teachers and facilities, it will be a betrayal of public trust,” he added.

He said that to address this problem, 3,000 teachers had already been appointed on the batch-wise basis while another 3,000 teachers were being recruited. He added that the state government had restored the old pension scheme for its employees and started giving a Rs 1,500 monthly pension to eligible women.

Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the Lavi Fair was a symbol of cultural heritage and trade exchange. He credited the Congress government with a robust disaster response and ongoing development across the state. Around Rs 250 crore had been allocated for road projects in Rampur alone, he claimed.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.