Page 4 - Himachal Pradesh

HP govt signs MoU with Dubai-based firm for overseas jobs to youths

The Himachal Pradesh government and a Dubai-based firm on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for overseas placements of the youths of the state in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The MoU was signed by Deputy Director (Employment) Sandeep Thakur on behalf of the government and EFS Facilities Services Group Limited CEO Tariq Chauhan. The CM on the occasion offered appointment letters to Una's Rajat Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Jaspreet Singh, and Abhinav Sharma, and Hamirpur district's Dinesh. The Visa process of all five candidates is under process and they are expected to go to Saudi Arabia in September this year, where they will work on the NEOM city project. Sukhu said that the MoU would pave the way for better employment opportunities for Himachali youths. The CM also directed the Labour and Employment Department to evolve a mechanism to track the well-being of the candidates working abroad and suggested the use of Mukhya Mantri Sewa Sankalp Helpline 11

Himachal govt raised loans worth Rs 21,366 cr in last 20 months: CM Sukhu

Earlier on Thursday during the Assembly session, CM Sukhu said that the financial condition of the state is not good

Himachal Pradesh raises women's marriage age from 18 to 21: What's next?

The Bill seeks to eliminate the age distinction between men and women in the definition of a child, ensuring that both genders are treated equally under the law

Himachal govt to implement Bulk Drug Park Project on its own, says CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government will implement the Bulk Drug Park Project on its own and provide land and electricity at subsidised rates to the investors, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. The project worth Rs 1,000 crore aims to set up a mega drug manufacturing facility spanning 570 hectares in the Haroli assembly segment of Una district. Intervening during Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan's reply to a question by Congress's Kewal Singh Pathania on the Bulk Drug Park, Sukhu said the terms and conditions of the project would be revised after 10 years. Water and electricity would be supplied at commercial rates and charges would be levied for waste, solid waste, and steam management, he added. Sukhu also blamed the previous BJP government for allegedly failing to secure the interests of the state while signing memorandums of understanding for hydropower and other projects. Agreements for Dhaulasidh, Luhri and Sunni hydropower projects were signed aga

Kangana Ranaut in legal trouble for 'misrepresenting' Sikhs in 'Emergency'

SGPC has issued a legal notice to actress and producer Kangana Ranaut to remove the trailer of the film and for the filmmakers to issue a formal apology to the Sikh community

Himachal received just Rs 433 cr from Centre as disaster relief: CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh received only Rs 433.70 crore as disaster relief from the Centre in 2023 while the state government released Rs 4,495.43 crore to tackle the catastrophe, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in the state assembly on Tuesday. Replying to a debate on damage and loss due to monsoon disaster, Sukhu said the state suffered losses amounting Rs 9,000 crore during monsoon in 2023 and that he would again meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand compensation for the loss. The debate under Rule 130 (motion to consider policy, situation, statement, report or any other matter) was initiated by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur. Under the relief package announced by the state government for relief and rehabilitation, Rs 847.73 crore were released under the heads of national and state disaster relief fund, he said. The CM added that Rs 1,871.75 crore was given by the Finance Department, Rs 1,085 crore by Rural Development department, Rs 146.97 crore by Planning ..

Himachal Assembly passes Bill raising marriage age for women from 18 to 21

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill raising the marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The state assembly passed the prohibition of child marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill 2024) seeking to raise the marriageable age of women by voice vote. Introducing the bill, Health and Women Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that provision of Child Marriage Act 2006 was enacted to provide for prohibition of child marriages, adding it has become necessary to increase the minimum age of marriage for girls in order to provide gender equality and opportunities of obtaining higher education. Moreover, early pregnancies also have adverse effects on the health of the girls, the minister said. It is proposed to amend the Child Marriage Act 2006 and related acts in the state and increase the minimum age of marriage for girls to 21 years, he added.

Himachal govt allocates Rs 53.21 cr to 'Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana'

Children who secure admission to undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, or vocational courses will receive financial aid from the government

BJP distances itself from Kangana Ranaut's statements on farmers' movement

Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorised to make statements on the party's policy - BJP issues a statement in response to the Mandi MP's controversial comments.

Profit-making bodies asked to release DA, other arrears: Himachal CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the profit-making boards and corporations in Himachal Pradesh have been asked to release dearness allowances and other arrears of their employees. Sukhu's announcement came after his interaction with delegations of various associations of non-gazetted employees and teachers who called on the chief minister to apprise him of their demands, a statement issued here said. He also told the unions' representatives that the state government will release dearness allowances (DA) and other employee benefits once the financial condition of the state improves, according to the release. He assured them that he would review the financial position of the state within a month, following which a meeting would be held with them in September end, it added. Representatives of three unions -- Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Association, Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Services Association, and Teachers' Association met the chief ..

14 hydropower projects damaged by flash floods in Himachal since July 25

At least 14 hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh have suffered damage due to flash floods since July 25, with some being affected multiple times over the past 10 years, according to a new analysis. As damage to hydroelectric projects from flash floods and cloudbursts becomes a recurring issue -- impacting both communities and power generation -- experts are calling for disaster risk analyses to be conducted before such projects are undertaken. They also recommend the preparation of robust disaster management plans, and the installation of early warning systems and flood forecast stations. According to the analysis by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People (SANDRP), two hydroelectric projects (HEPs) suffered significant damage due to a "cloudburst-induced flash flood" in the Palchan area of Kullu district on the intervening night of July 25-26. Both HEPs -- the 2-megawatt Pinnacle HEP on the Serai river and the 9-MW Beas Kund HEP on the Beas river -- are owned and

Multiple landslides hit Shimla, 20 bodies recovered, rescue ops underway

Residents expressed concern over the damaged roads and blamed local authorities for negligence leading to the landslides

Himachal incurs Rs 1,195 cr losses since monsoon onset, 55 roads shut

As many as 55 roads are blocked in Himachal Pradesh due to landslides and floods triggered by the ongoing rains and the state has incurred losses of Rs 1,195 crore since the monsoon onset this year, official data released on Wednesday showed. As many as 139 people have died so far this monsoon season in rain-related incidents. Fourteen roads are closed in Mandi, 13 in Shimla, 12 in Kangra, 11 in Kullu, two in Kinnaur and each in Bilaspur, Una and Sirmaur districts, according to the state emergency operation centre. The rains also disrupted 29 water and 14 power schemes in the state, as of Wednesday, the centre said. Meanwhile, Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap on Wednesday urged the residents here, especially students, office-goers and patients visiting hospitals for treatment, to keep a half-hour margin while travelling. The traffic problem in the state capital is worsening due to the limited number of roads, with landslides further exacerbating the situation, leading to

North India's dams hold only 51% of capacity amid below-normal rainfall

Reservoirs in Punjab, Himachal, and Rajasthan are dangerously low on water levels, threatening irrigation and power generation as the monsoon season ends

LIC agents earn Rs 10k a month in HP, Rs 20k/month in Andaman & Nicobar

LIC agents on an average earn Rs 10,328 per month in Himachal Pradesh, the lowest among the insurer's agents in all states and UTs. According to data provided by LIC to the Finance Ministry, the average monthly income was the highest at Rs 20,446 a month for LIC agents in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In terms of the number of agents, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has the lowest number of agents at 273 in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Himachal Pradesh has 12,731 agents. The PSU life insurer had 13,90,920 agents across the country, according to the data. Among the larger states, Uttar Pradesh had the maximum number of LIC agents at over 1.84 lakh with an average monthly income of Rs 11,887. Maharashtra had more than 1.61 lakh LIC agents with an average monthly income of Rs 14,931. West Bengal had the third-highest number of LIC agents at 1,19,975 with an average monthly income of Rs 13,512. In Tamil Nadu, there were 87,347 agents with an average monthly income of Rs ...

Himachal CM Sukhu announces projects worth Rs 696 cr to boost tourism

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that 11 projects with an outlay of Rs 696.47 crore are underway to give a fillip to the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh. Presiding over a meeting of the tourism department here last evening, he said tenders have been invited for all these projects, aiming to enhance the influx of tourists in the state, a statement issued here on Wednesday said. "It was essential to enhance the overall tourism experiences in the state and create new infrastructure as tourism is a key sector for our economy supporting the livelihood of thousands of families directly or indirectly," he said. As per the statement, the 11 projects include a convention centre at Dharamshala (Rs 161.91 crore); beautification of Palampur and Nagrota Bagwan (Rs 95.50 crore); wellness centre at Nadaun (Rs 91.42 crore); ice skating rink cum roller skating rink at Dharamshala (Rs 39.51 crore), among others. The chief minister directed the officers to expedite the projects and .

Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh leads to closure of over 140 roads

Over 140 roads, including two national highways, are closed in Himachal Pradesh following landslides and flash floods triggered by rains in several parts of the state since the past week, officials said on Wednesday. The local meteorological office has issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain in isolated parts of the state till Sunday and also warned of low flash floods in parts of Sirmaur district till Thursday. Iintermittent rains continued to lash parts of the state since Tuesday evening and Dharamshala recorded 40.2 mm of rain followed by Kangra (35.9 mm), Narkanda (23.5 mm), Brahmani (19.2 mm), Sujanpur Tira (16 mm), Bharari (15.2 mm), Palampur (14.4 mm) and Rampur (11.2 mm). The State Emergency Operation Centre said 73 roads were closed in Shimla, 22 in Mandi, 20 in Kullu, 14 in Sirmaur, five in Kangra, three in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti each, two in Chamba districts on Wednesday morning. It said 209 power and 47 water supply schemes were also affected. The rainfall defici

Heavy rain continues to lash Himachal Pradesh, 338 roads closed: Officials

Landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain since Sunday led to the closure of 338 roads, including four national highways in Himachal Pradesh, officials said. Several areas in Una are waterlogged, they said on Monday. Rescue operations to locate about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts are being conducted but there has been no major success. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, the officials said. More than 100 people have been killed in rain-related incidents and the state suffered losses of about Rs 842 crore between June 27 and August 9, they said. The State Emergency Operation Centre said of the 338 roads closed, 104 were in Shimla, 71 in Mandi, 58 in Sirmaur, 55 in Chamba, 26 in Kullu, seven each in Solan and Lahaul & Spiti, five in Kinnaur, four in Kangra and one in Bilaspur district. It added that 488 power and 116 water supply schemes were also disrupted on Monday. The reginal Met office has issued a .

Heavy rains in north India leave over 28 dead, trigger floods & landslides

Heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall over north India triggered flash floods, landslides, and house collapses in Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring regions

Heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods block 288 roads in Himachal

Landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rains over the last two days has led to the closure of more than 280 roads in Himachal Pradesh, with 150 being closed on Saturday, according to officials. Water from overflowing streams has entered several houses in Una while the Lahaul and Spiti police have issued an advisory for residents and travellers to exercise extreme caution and not to cross the Jahalman Nallah as its water level is "rapidly" rising, they said. Rescue operations to trace about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla district are being conducted but there has been no major success. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, the officials said. More than 100 people have been killed in rain-related incidents, and the state has suffered losses of about Rs 842 crore between June 27 and August 9, they said. The officials said of the 288 roads, 138 were closed on Friday and 150 on Saturday. State emergency operation centre dat