The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to take over several major hydroelectric power projects previously allotted to central and joint sector public undertakings.
These include the 382 MW Sunni, 210 MW Luhri Stage-I, and 66 MW Dhaulasidh projects, which were earlier assigned to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL), a joint venture between the central and state governments.
Additionally, the state will reclaim the 500 MW Dugar and 180 MW Baira Suil projects, which had been allotted to the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC), a central public sector undertaking. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
To facilitate the transfer of the Sunni, Luhri Stage-I, Dhaulasidh, and Dugar projects, the cabinet approved the appointment of an independent evaluator to assess the actual expenditure incurred. For the Baira Suil project, the cabinet cleared the appointment of an Administrator to oversee the takeover.
In the same meeting, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of two new 50-bedded Critical Care Blocks (CCBs)—one at the Primary Health Centre Swahan, which is part of the Regional Hospital Bilaspur, and another at the Civil Hospital Rohru in Shimla district.
These facilities will be equipped with all necessary medical equipment. The cabinet also sanctioned the creation of District Integrated Public Health Laboratories at Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College in Chamba and at the District Hospital Hamirpur, which is associated with Dr. Radha Krishnan Government Medical College.
Further approvals were given for the procurement of essential equipment for the under-construction Mother and Child Hospital wings at Kamla Nehru Hospital in Shimla, Regional Hospital Una, and Civil Hospital Sundernagar in Mandi district, to ensure the efficient functioning of these institutions.
A significant step was taken to enhance the financial support for medical professionals, with the cabinet deciding to increase the monthly stipend for Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists from the existing ₹60,000–₹65,000 to ₹1,00,000. Similarly, Super Specialists and Senior Residents in the super-specialist category will now receive ₹1,30,000 per month, up from the same earlier range.
The cabinet also approved recommendations from the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Rogi Kalyan Samiti, chaired by Health Minister Col (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil. These recommendations include the establishment of high-tech laboratories in all government medical colleges and the extension of free diagnostic services to additional vulnerable groups.
The new beneficiaries—orphans, widows and their dependent children, Ekal Nari, and destitute women—will receive free access to 133 types of lab tests and X-ray services, increasing the total number of eligible categories from 11 to 14.
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On the financial front, the cabinet accepted proposals from the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Resource Mobilisation, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. These proposals aim to boost the state’s revenue through various strategic initiatives. One such measure includes the immediate re-auctioning of around 400 unsold retail liquor vends individually.
The cabinet also approved entering into a management service contract with EIH Ltd for the interim operation of Hotel Wildflower Hall in Mashobra. This arrangement is expected to yield a monthly revenue of ₹1.77 crore for the state while ensuring the property's upkeep until a new operator is chosen through a competitive bidding process.
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In support of the state’s green mobility goals, the cabinet cleared the establishment of 402 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at various government premises across Himachal Pradesh. These stations will be set up at locations including Rest Houses, Circuit Houses, offices of the Jal Shakti and Public Works Departments, HPSEBL, and the administrative offices of DCs, SPs, and BBNDA.
Additionally, the cabinet decided to implement the Himachal Pradesh Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 across all remaining Urban Local Bodies, including seven Municipal Corporations, 17 Municipal Councils, and 23 Nagar Panchayats.
This move aims to curb the defacement of public spaces by regulating the display of advertisements, notices, signs, and images on public properties such as buildings, walls, and trees.
Finally, the cabinet approved making Atal Adarsh Vidyaalay Marhi, located in the Dharampur Constituency of Mandi district, operational from the academic session 2025–26.
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