The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Monday approved significant amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014.
The changes aim to restrict construction on the valley side of the Shimla Municipal Corporation area, mandating that such buildings be constructed at least one metre below the road level.
The move is intended to preserve the valley’s visual appeal for visitors, an official statement said.
Among other key decisions, the Cabinet approved the Pashu Mitra Policy 2025, under which 1,000 'pashu mitras’ multitask workers will be appointed in the animal husbandry department. It also increased the monthly fodder grant for cattle shelters from ₹700 to ₹1,200 per cattle per month.
In the education sector, the Cabinet cleared the filling of 100 posts of Junior Office Assistant (Library) to support school libraries, and also approved the creation of 10 posts of Senior Assistant and 15 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in the revenue department.
Healthcare workers also saw a significant boost, with the Cabinet approving a hike in the monthly honorarium for operation theatre assistants from ₹17,820 to ₹25,000 and for radiographers/X-ray technicians from ₹13,100 to ₹25,000.
In a major green initiative, the Cabinet gave a nod to the Mukhya Mantri Green Adoption Yojana, aimed at promoting plantations on degraded forest land through CSR contributions from private enterprises. Additionally, the forest area surrounding the Mata Tara Devi temple in Shimla district will now fall under the green area of the Shimla Development Plan to ensure sustainable development.
Further, comprehensive guidelines for hiring e-taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojana, 2023, were approved to promote eco-friendly transport and entrepreneurship.
To improve efficiency, the Cabinet also approved the merger of the design wing with the civil wing of the Public Works Department.
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