The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Monday gave its nod for establishing a cancer care centre in Hamirpur, building what could be the longest zipline project near Dharamsala and adopting a policy to explore and develop untapped geothermal energy resources in the state.
The approvals were given in a Cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which took a whole host of decisions on tourism, welfare schemes and state government employees.
The Cabinet allowed Alliance Air Aviation Ltd to operate a daily 46-seater plane on the Delhi-Shimla-Delhi and Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla routes. It approved the allotment of four hydroelectric projects, including the 6-MW Khauli-II project, 24-MW Malana-III project, 21.9-MW Manalsu project and 18-MW Dhancho project, to the successful bidders after the completion of the tendering process.
The construction of the 4.3-km Naddi zipline project near Dharamsala in Kangra district, touted to be Asia's longest zipline, at an estimated cost of Rs 7.41 crore, received the Cabinet’s approval. The government said it is expected to emerge as a major tourist attraction. The Cabinet also gave its nod to build a new ice skating rink in Shimla.
Besides, a cancer centre would be constructed at Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. The cabinet also approved the creation of 11 new departments at the hospital and the filling of vacancies at the facility.
It decided to amend the Social Security (Pension and Allowance) Rule, 2010, to ensure time-bound disbursal of social security pension to the beneficiaries. It also gave its approval to adopt the National Policy on Geothermal Energy to facilitate the exploration and development of untapped geothermal energy resources in the state.
The Directorate of Energy would be the nodal agency for the implementation of the policy and sanctioned amendments to the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021 to incorporate guidelines related to geothermal energy.
The Cabinet granted its nod to promulgate an ordinance to levy the Orphan and Widow Cess on petrol and high-speed diesel at the point of first sale in the state to strengthen welfare schemes for orphans and widows. The cess will be non-burdensome to consumers, while ensuring the availability of adequate financial resources for the effective implementation of these welfare schemes.
The cabinet also gave its nod to amend the Senior Resident Doctor Policy by providing a 66.66 per cent quota for in-service medical officers and 33.33 per cent seats for direct candidates. It further decided that the distribution of seats shall be interchangeable in case of non-availability of eligible candidates in their respective categories.
The cabinet approved the filling up of various vacancies, including 11 posts of assistant commissioner in the state taxes and excise department, 11 posts of job trainees in the Residential Institute for Mentally Challenged Children, Hiranagar, 11 posts in the Disaster Management Cell and six tehsildar posts in the Revenue Department.
Further, it was also decided to re-engage retired revenue officers on fixed remuneration for the early disposal of the pending cases. The construction of eight additional blocks in the campus of AIIMS Hospital, Bilaspur, received Cabinet approval as well.
The Himachal Pradesh Industrial Investment Policy, 2019 got an extension up to March 31, 2026, to promote sustainable industrial development, employment opportunities, enhance ease of doing business and attract investment in the state.
The cabinet has decided that the government will in principle take over the Institute for Children with Special Abilities, Dhalli. The SOP-cum-guidelines for the recruitment of creche workers and creche helpers in the state also received the Cabinet’s approval.
Also read: Cabinet nod to 700 Home Guard posts in Himachal
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