Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) is bracing up for a long legal battle following the state government’s decision to take over three hydel power projects it is constructing.

“The possibility of any mutual understanding has ended with the government’s decision to take over the projects. Now, the matter will be decided in court,” said SJVN Director (Personnel) Ajay Sharma.

On Saturday, the Cabinet had approved the takeover of the 382 MW Sunni, 210 MW Luhri Stage-I and 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydroelectric projects, which had been allotted to SJVN by the previous BJP government in the state.

The government has also decided to take back 500 MW Dugar and 180 MW Baira Suil hydroelectric projects allotted to NHPC.

The government took the deal-breaking decision following unsuccessful deliberations between the stakeholders to sign terms and conditions afresh for implementing these projects.

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government is demanding free power share at the rate of 12, 18 and 30 per cent and return of the project after 40 years.

SJVN, however, wants to implement the project on the terms and conditions agreed upon with the Jai Ram Thakur government.

The previous BJP government gave SJVN a waiver in the free power share, especially in the first 12 years, and it was not required to return the projects after 40 years, unlike private power producers in the state.

As for the relaxation given by the previous government, Sharma said the projects wouldn’t have taken off at all without these relaxations.

“The Government of India gives approval for investment only in those hydel power projects where the tariff is around Rs 5.50 per unit. The tariff at Luhri and Dhaulasidh was coming to around Rs 8 to Rs 8.50 per unit.

Since it wasn’t viable for us at that tariff, we sought relaxation in free power share from the previous government, which brought the tariff down to Rs 5.50 to Rs 5.75,” said Sharma.

The other factor that led to the standoff between the state government and SJVN is the latter starting work on these projects without signing the Implementation Agreement.

According to Sharma, SJVN had arrived at a broad understanding with the previous government for implementing these projects. “We were in the final stages of signing the IA ahead of the Assembly elections in 2022.

Due to the elections, it could not be signed. The government changed and the new government refused to honour the terms and conditions agreed upon by the previous government,” said Sharma.

Calling the state government’s decision unfortunate, Sharma said SJVN would continue the construction work of the projects at the same pace.

“We can’t afford to stop work even for a few days as it will lead to cost overruns and expensive power,” said Sharma.

“We’ve completed nearly 60 per cent work on these three projects. In case we end up handing over these projects back to the state government, it will be very difficult for any other entity to complete the project from this stage,” said Sharma.

A high-level committee headed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday approved a Rs 1,280.35 crore additional Central assistance to Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to combat natural calamities.

An amount of Rs 588.73 crore was approved for Bihar, Rs 136.22 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 522.34 crore for Tamil Nadu and Rs 33.06 crore for Puducherry, which were affected by natural disasters in 2024.

In 2024-25, the Centre had released Rs 20,264.40 crore to 28 states under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and Rs 5,160.76 crore under the NDRF to 19 states.

This additional assistance is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the states in the SDRF and Union Territorial Disaster Response Fund, already placed at the disposal of the states, official sources said.

A sub-division level mock drill was conducted at Government Senior Secondary School, Nogli in Rampur, aimed at educating locals on disaster preparedness and emergency response.

The drill was organised to create awareness about natural calamities and equip participants with practical knowledge to handle emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, and fires. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students, women’s groups, and local residents.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nishant Tomar, who presided over the event, underlined the importance of community readiness. “Every individual must be prepared to face any disaster and help spread awareness within their communities,” he said.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) demonstrated key safety protocols for dealing with earthquakes and floods. The fire department provided live demonstrations on fire safety, including techniques for escaping fires and managing gas cylinder leaks.

The mock drill was attended by several officials, including Tehsildar Rampur Parikshit Bhandia, BMO Dr RK Negi, and officers and jawans from the NDRF.

The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump of a 26 per cent tariff on goods exported from India to the US has sparked concern among the gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh.

The Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) of Baijnath and Bara Bhangal, along with NGOs of farmers in the Kangra district, export approximately 2.5 lakh kg of raw organic wool to the US each year.

This export enables the gaddi shepherds of the Kangra and Chamba districts to earn a decent income, supplementing their existing earnings.

However, the imposition of a 26 per cent tariff on all imports from India has raised concerns about the viability of organic wool exports from Himachal Pradesh.

Akshay Jasrotia, head of the FPO in Baijnath, stated that they are assessing the impact of the tariffs imposed by the US President.

He noted that the 26 per cent tariff would put them at a disadvantage compared to other wool-producing countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and Turkey, which face a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

Jasrotia mentioned that they have contacted US companies that import wool from them and are also assessing the situation. He added that they would approach the Government of India for assistance in overcoming the challenges posed by the tariffs.

The Farmer Producer Organisation of Baijnath had obtained organic certification for the wool produced by the gaddi shepherds, which led to US companies importing wool from them.

Prior to this, the shepherds sold their wool to Wool Federation of Himachal at a rate of approximately Rs 45 per kg.

However, after obtaining organic certification, they began receiving Rs 60 to 70 per kg from US companies. Additionally, the US companies covered the transportation costs for the FPO to collect organic wool from the shepherds in Kangra district’s forest areas and transport it to Delhi for export.

The exports of organically certified wool from the gaddi shepherds increased to approximately 2.5 lakh kg over a few years, with more shepherds approaching the FPO to sell their organic wool.

Nevertheless, the recent 26 per cent tariff announcement by the US President has posed a challenge for the FPOs in Baijnath and Bara Bhangal.

Jasrotia expressed hope that the central and state governments would provide subsidies to their FPOs, enabling them to compete with other wool-producing countries.

Himachal Pradesh is undergoing a significant demographic transformation, with birth rates declining sharply over the past two decades — from 20.5 to below 12.

In 2005, when the state’s population stood at approximately 65 lakh, around 1.34 lakh births were registered. By 2024, despite the population rising to an estimated 80 lakh, only about 88,000 births were recorded — a drop of nearly 45,000 annual births in just 20 years.

The last time the state recorded fewer than 90,000 births was in 1994, with roughly 82,000 registrations. However, at that time, the population was under 55 lakh.

Births had steadily increased after 1995, peaking at 1.40 lakh in 2006 — the highest ever recorded in the state. Between 2005 and 2010, the annual birth rate remained stable, but after 2010, it started witnessing a steady decline, falling below one lakh in 2018 and dipping under 90,000 in 2024.

The dwindling number of births is now reflected in school enrollments, particularly in government schools.

According to Ashish Kohli, Director of the Directorate of School Education, student numbers in government schools have plummeted from 9.71 lakh in 2002 to just 4.29 lakh. “While many students have shifted to private schools, the declining total fertility rate (TFR) is also a major factor behind this drop,” Kohli explained.

Dr Parkash Chand Daroch, Director of Health Services, noted that Himachal’s TFR has fallen to 1.47, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. “The department cannot dictate family size, but fertility trends require government-level interventions,” he said.

Sanju Karol, Director of Population Research Centre, Shimla, attributed the declining TFR to rising female literacy, delayed marriages and increased contraceptive use.

Professor Narinder Bist from HPU’s Department of Population Studies warned that the falling birth rate would lead to a growing elderly population and a shrinking workforce in the age group of 15-59.

“If the TFR drops further to around 1, the situation could become alarming. For now, it’s manageable, but we must prepare for the consequences,” he said.

A major emerging challenge, according to Dr Bist, will be elderly care. “With fewer children to support aging parents, the demand for caregiver services will surge. The government must start planning for this now,” he emphasised.

The decision of the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) to rent its assets like controlled atmosphere (CA) stores and grading and packing lines has not gone down well with apple growers.

They have termed the corporation’s decision as anti-fruit growers that will lead to monopoly of private players in the sector and increase in the storage and grading and packing costs for growers.

“The private players will be concerned about maximizing their profits not the welfare of the growers.

If there’s no provision for capping the prices of services at these facilities, it will lead to an overall increase in the storage and grading and packing costs,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

Sohan Thakur, president of the Seb Utpadak Sangh, questioned the corporation’s haste in renting these facilities to private players.

“Most of these facilities have become operational only over the past couple of years. Instead of renting these facilities to private parties, why can’t the HPMC make efforts to make these sustainable?” he asked.

He said, “Also, why build these facilities using public money if these are to be handed over to private players? Most of these facilities have been built or upgraded with funds from the World Bank-aided Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project.”

Some growers are also questioning why the HPMC’s facilities remain underutilized, while the facilities of the private players are doing a brisk business.

“The HPMC needs to have smaller chambers to let small growers use its CA stores. Also, it should keep the prices competitive and aggressively market its facilities to ensure their optimum utilisation,” said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit, Vegetable and Flowers Growers Association.

Chauhan said that the decision to rent the state-of-the-art grading and packing lines was perplexing. “The HPMC has the best grading and packing lines.

Private individuals running grading and packing facilities are earning good money, so why can’t the HPMC make profit despite having state-of-the-art equipment?” he added.

Meanwhile, Bisht said that the HPMC was limiting its role instead of widening its net to help the growers market their produce and get remunerative prices, the key objective of the corporation.

“The HPMC has no presence in the mandis to help the growers get remunerative prices. Now, it’s relinquishing its CA stores and grading and packing lines.

If it intends to offer little services to the growers and focus solely on profit-making, as is evident from the decision to rent it assets, it is better that the corporation is disbanded,” he added.

Underutilised facilities rented

The underutilisation of CA stores and grading and packing lines is the reason behind the HPMC renting these facilities to private parties
Over the past few years, only 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the HPMC storage capacity was used
We want our storage capacity to be used optimally, says Sudesh Mokhta, Managing Director, HPMC
He says that as for the growers’ fears that the storage and grading and packing costs will escalate, the rates ae unlikely to vary from prevailing charges

In a bid to improve the air and water quality of the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, the State Pollution Control Board has collected an environmental compensation of Rs 3.2 crore in the last five years.

The compensation is levied on units that violate environmental pollution norms, in line with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive, which follows the “polluter pays” principle.

The amount highlights the negligence of industrial units that violate environmental standards to avoid spending on pollution control measures, thereby evading their social responsibility.

From 2019 to 2024, as many as 87 of the 2,919 industrial units in BBN were found violating various pollution control norms.

As a consequence, they were fined Rs 3.2 crore, according to a reply provided by the State Pollution Control Board in the recent budget session of the Vidhan Sabha in response to a query from Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Bawa.

The BBN industrial area houses 380 red category firms, 1,404 orange category firms, and 1,135 green category firms.

Red category industries, such as cement manufacturers, distilleries, and metal extraction units, have the highest pollution potential and are required to adopt stringent environmental controls. Orange category industries, which include bottling of gases and ice cream manufacturing, require moderate pollution control measures, while green category industries, like food processing, bakery and handloom units, have a lower environmental impact and face fewer regulatory requirements.

Usually they do not require installation of pollution control devices nor Consent to Establish or Consent to Operate from the pollution board.

The State Pollution Control Board has also taken strict action against non-compliant units, disconnecting the electricity supply of 27 industrial units, including four stone crushers in the Nalagarh area, since last year.

Officials found that erring units who require an upgrade of their pollution mitigation devices or fail to ensure their apt maintenance usually shy away from renewing their consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board even though it is a mandatory requirement.

Instead of investing on pollution devices they prefer to pay the environmental compensation in lakhs reflecting their lack of concern for the environment.

Emphasising the conservation of water, forests and land for ecological balance, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Tuesday acknowledged the crucial roles village forest management committees playing in this direction.

He was speaking at a felicitation event organised by the Forest Department in Ghatashni Gram Panchayat under the Dalhousie Forest Division.

The event aimed to honour village forest management committees that have excelled in environmental conservation and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to forest fire prevention.

The event saw participation from office-bearers and representatives of various rural forest management committees, along with officers, employees of the Forest Department, and a large number of local residents.

Highlighting the Himachal Pradesh Government’s commitment to forest conservation and expansion, Pathania said the state government had launched Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana in the recently presented 2025-26 budget.

Under this scheme, Rs 100 crore will be allocated to encourage community participation, benefiting self-help groups, women’s associations, youth groups, and rural forest management committees.

This initiative will not only create self-employment opportunities but also promote the conservation of water, forests, and land in the state.

Pathania stressed that government forests were the common property of all residents, and their preservation requires collective efforts from all sections of society.

He urged locals to refrain from setting forest fires and to report any such incidents immediately to the Forest Department. Additionally, he encouraged mass sapling plantation during the upcoming afforestation season.

During the event, village forest management committees were awarded for their exceptional work.

For the financial year 2021-22, the first prize was awarded to Chhabad, the second to Kadai, and the third to Taragarh. In 2022-23, Chhabad secured the first position, Kail the second, and Dhunera the third.

Earlier, Dalhousie DFO Rajneesh Mahajan provided key insights into the significance of the felicitation ceremony. He emphasised that protecting forest resources is an arduous task for the department without public cooperation.

However, the Dalhousie Forest Division has successfully tackled this challenge through community participation. Chamba Conservator of Forests Abhilash Damodaran underscored the importance of public involvement in preventing forest fires.

He said safeguarding forest resources and wildlife is not solely the responsibility of the Forest Department but also a duty of every citizen to maintain environmental balance. Several officials, including State Forest Corporation Director Krishna Chand Chela, also addressed the gathering.

The Oberoi Group will continue to manage the luxury Wildflower Hall hotel for the next three months under a new arrangement with the Himachal Pradesh Government, even as the original deadline for handing over the property expired on Monday.

The High Court had set March 31, 2025, as the deadline for the property’s return to the state government, marking the end of a two-decade legal battle that ruled in Himachal’s favour.

However, the court has been informed that both parties have agreed to extend the Oberoi Group’s operation for another three months.

The decision stems from the state government’s lack of expertise in managing a high-end hotel of this stature — one of the top properties being run by the Oberoi Group. Reliable sources indicate that the government aims at preventing revenue losses until the property is leased out to a new operator.

Meanwhile, the state has appointed a consultant to draft global bidding documents for leasing the property.

Facing financial constraints, the government is exploring all avenues to boost revenue, with tourism being a key focus.

In February 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the Oberoi Group’s East India Hotels Ltd (EIHL) to return Wild Flower Hall to the state government.

The state now seeks a top-tier hospitality firm to operate the property, ensuring substantial returns from this prime location nestled in pristine deodar forests.

This time, the government is proceeding cautiously, having learned from past missteps. Under the previous agreement with EIHL, the state didn’t get any substantial revenue despite the hotel being one of Oberoi’s most prime assets.

The conflict traces back to Mashobra Resorts Ltd, a joint venture between the EIHL and Himachal Government, formed to construct and operate the five-star hotel.

Before its destruction in a devastating 1993 fire, the century-old British-era building housed a hotel run by the HP Tourism Development Corporation.

The legal feud began in 2002 when the state government terminated its agreement with EIHL, citing breach of terms. What followed was a 20-year battle, culminating in court rulings and an arbitrator’s verdict in Himachal’s favour.

The Himachal Pradesh government has announced the separation of cadres of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) to further strengthen the healthcare system in the state.

According to a spokesperson of the Health Department, employees across various categories, including nursing and paramedical staff, ministerial staff, radiographers, operation theatre assistants and drivers were given the option to choose their preferred cadre and 74.44 per cent of them opted for DHS.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson said 14,573 employees have chosen DHS, while 5,002 have opted for DME.

To address staff shortages, the government will now conduct recruitments separately for directorates, ensuring balanced staffing and improved healthcare services, the statement said.

The spokesperson said the strategic decision aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services across the state.

“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, several initiatives have been undertaken over the last two years to upgrade healthcare infrastructure.

In the coming months, outdated medical equipment in health institutions will be replaced with advanced ones to further improve medical facilities,” he said.

He added that the state government remains committed to strengthening healthcare services and will continue to implement necessary reforms to ensure accessible and high-quality medical care for people of the state.

Voice of America (VOA) closes down operations in Dharamsala, Radio Free Asia to follow suit by April-end.

The Tibetan community in exile and the Association of Tibetan journalists have expressed concern over VOA shutting down its operations in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile.

Besides VOA, Radio Free Asia is also set to close down its operations in Dharamsala in April, according to sources.

These US-government-funded media outlets served as vital sources of information regarding the state of Tibetans in Tibet for Tibetan media outlets in exile.

During the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s ongoing budget session, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering informed the house that all VOA central headquarters staff have been placed on administrative leave, while regional reporters, including those in Dharamsala, have terminated operations. Similarly, Radio Free Asia’s central staff have been furloughed, with its regional staff being supported through reserved funds until the end of April.

The closures come in the wake of an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on March 14, instructing the reduction of operations for seven federally funded entities, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA and RFA.

The Tibetan media in exile have termed the closure of VOA and RFA as a major media setback to the Tibetan cause.

The Dharamsala-based Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) strongly condemned the funding cuts, urging the US government to reinstate financial support for the Tibetan language services of both radio stations.

In a statement, ATJ warned that the closure of these stations would significantly undermine press freedom and democratic values in the Tibetan exile community.

ATJ emphasised the critical role these media outlets have played in providing reliable news to Tibetans inside Tibet and preserving Tibetan language and culture.

ATJ has held that over the years, VOA and RFA have served as vital sources of information on Tibetan life under Chinese rule, the activities of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and the plight of Tibetan refugees.

Chinese state-controlled media have celebrated the shutdown, portraying it as a victory against what they claim to be false reporting. The Global Times described VOA as a “so-called beacon of freedom” that has been discarded like a dirty rag by its own government.

Other Chinese media outlets, including Beijing Daily, accused VOA of spreading misinformation about China, Tibetan journalists said, adding that Tibetans in Tibet, and in exile, now face an information vacuum as these longstanding media platforms fall silent.

Many Tibetan MPs have called for restoration of funding for the two media outlets, describing them as lifelines for propagating human rights situations inside Tibet.

The Central Tibetan Administration, ATJ, and other Tibetan organisations have called on the US government to reconsider its decision and restore the critical services provided by VOA and RFA’s Tibetan language divisions.

Unchecked illegal mining in Baner river near Tanda Medical College, Kangra, has put another railway bridge on the heritage Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail track at risk.

Additionally, the rampant mining poses a serious threat to an adjoining Irrigation and Public Health Department water supply project, which serves nearly a dozen villages.

Despite repeated assurances from the local administration and Mining Department, illegal extraction of sand and gravel continues unabated.

Tractor-trailers loaded with mined material can be seen transporting sand and gravel to secret locations, where the mining mafia further loads it onto larger vehicles for sale, a local resident revealed.

Several residents, including Rakesh Kumar and Munish, told The Tribune that deep trenches dug on the riverbed have weakened the foundation pillars of the railway bridge.

They alleged that illegal mining operates round the clock, with no intervention from the authorities, making life miserable for nearby villagers.

This situation bears an alarming resemblance to the collapse of a colonial-era bridge over the Chakki rivulet near Nurpur three years ago, which was attributed to illegal mining.

That disaster led to the suspension of direct train services between Pathankot and Jogindernagar, which remain non-operational to this day.

As per the state government’s mining policy, mining within 100 metres of bridges is strictly prohibited. However, images captured by this reporter show illegal mining happening right next to the bridge in Baner River.

While a complete ban on mining has been imposed in the area, the mining mafia continues its activities unchecked, dangerously close to the bridge foundations.

Locals claim they have repeatedly reported the issue to mining authorities and the local administration, but no action has been taken.