Tag: HIMACHAL

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Bedlam In Himachal

Himachal Pradesh Assembly.

Speaker suspends 15 BJP MLAs as the party claims that Congress has lost majority after its legislators cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election…reports Asian Lite News

As many as 15 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs of Himachal Pradesh were suspended from the House by Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Wednesday allegedly for creating ruckus in his chamber.

The 15 BJP MLA’s who were suspended from the House include Jai Ram Thakur, Vipin Parmar, Randhir Sharma, Hans Raj, Vinod Kumar, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Lokinder Kumar, Trilok Jamwal, Surinder Shourie, Puran Chand, Dalip Thakur, Inder Singb Gandhi, Ranbir Nikka and Deep Raj.

The BJP legislators were suspended by the Speaker after the State Parliamentary party affairs minister Harshwardhan Chauhan moved a proposal recommending the expulsion of the MLAs from the house.

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned till 12 pm amid disruptions, with opposition members staging protests in the well of the House.

The BJP, however, has dubbed this a move by the Congress to prevent its government from toppling ahead of the Budget session.

BJP’s winning Rajya Sabha candidate Harsh Mahajan said, “Congress Government is toppling. So such attempts are being made – to suspend them. These are delay tactics and are followed in every Vidhan Sabha…Congress has dismantled from here. All the attempts they make now will fail. BJP will form the Government here…Nine MLAs (who cross-voted) are in my support…”

In fresh trouble for the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, Vikramaditya Singh, a state minister and the son of the former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday stepped down from his position.

“All I would like to say is that under the current circumstances, it is not correct for me to continue as a part of the government. So, I have decided that I am resigning from the Council of Ministers. I am resigning as a minister,” Singh said.

The trouble for the government comes at a time when the Assembly’s annual Budget session is going on and ahead of voting on the state Finance Bill in the Assembly.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur who is an MP from the state says the Congress government had not fulfilled any of its promises.

“Congress formed govt in Himachal Pradesh by giving big and fake promises. After the formation of the govt, none of those promises were fulfilled. People used to ask questions when Congress MLAs went to their constituencies…they had no answers to give…no work was done, Congress’ own MLAs were facing a lot of difficulties …why did Congress MLAs abandon their party within 14 months, what was the compulsion? one of the reasons is that they gave ticket to a non-Himachali person” Anurag Thakur said.

The BJP is pressing for division voting on the passing of the Budget after it is introduced in the assembly. If Congress is unable to see the Budget through, the government in the state will fall.

The Congress has 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25 in the 68-member state assembly. Independents hold the remaining three seats.

“The government is in minority. Dictatorship is taking place. The government cannot get the Budget passed on division of votes, hence 15 BJP MLAs have been suspended in this manner. This has never happened before in the history of Himachal,” the BJP said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, six Congress Himachal Pradesh’s legislators who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election yesterday, arrive at the State Assembly in Shimla for the Budget Session.

All six of the rebel MLAs were staying at a hotel in Haryana since Tuesday left for Shimla for the Budget Session of the state assembly on Wednesday morning and were landed in Shimla by chopper.

Ravi Thakur, one of the Congress MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election yesterday, arrived at the State Assembly in Shimla, when asked if he is with Congress or the BJP, he said, “BJP”.

The BJP is pressing for division voting on the passing of the Budget after it is introduced in the assembly. If Congress is unable to see the Budget through the government in the state will fall.

Congress rebel MLAs head to Shimla

Meanwhile, six Congress Himachal Pradesh’s legislators who cross voted in Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday and were staying at a hotel in Haryana left for Shimla for the Budget Session of the state assembly on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had claimed that opposition leaders were obstructing the work of counting officials, and that “5-6 Congress MLAs were taken away in a convoy of the CRPF and Haryana Police.”

Meanwhile, members of the BJP Legislative Party led by Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday met Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

The meeting comes a day after the ruling Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the Rajya Sabha election to the BJP’s Harsh Mahajan despite the Congress enjoying a comfortable majority in the state assembly.

After meeting Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We have informed the Governor about what happened in the Assembly…In the Assembly, when we demanded division of vote during the financial bill, it was not allowed and the House was adjourned twice. The way Marshals behaved with our MLAs was not right. We have a doubt that the Vidhan Sabha Speaker can suspend BJP MLAs and some MLAs of Congress who voted for BJP in Rajya Sabha elections, can also be suspended. Currently, the Congress government has lost the right to stay in power…”

Jairam Thakur further said that the state government has lost the ‘moral right to stay in power’ after it lost the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday.

The Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly has been convened for today. The BJP is pressing for division voting on the passing of the Budget after it is introduced in the assembly. If the Congress is unable to see the Bugdet through the government in the state will fall.

In a shocking political development in Himachal Pradesh, the ruling Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the Rajya Sabha election to the BJP’s Harsh Mahajan despite the Congress enjoying a comfortable majority in the state assembly. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Congress Has Lost Majority in Himachal, Claims Thakur

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Himachal Pradesh’s ‘Kangra’ Focused Development Boost

Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore…reports Asian Lite News

The Cabinet Minister in Himachal Pradesh and Chairman of the Himachal Tourism Board, RS Bali on Saturday announced a series of transformative initiatives in Kangra aimed at enhancing cultural and recreational facilities in the region.

The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library in the Joint Office Building in Kangra.
Bali emphasised the importance of cultivating a reading culture, announcing plans to establish library rooms in every senior secondary school across the state.

Expressing his appreciation for the initiative, Bali commended SDM Kangra Somil Gautam for the construction of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library.He also highlighted the critical role of a conducive environment in shaping the aspirations of the youth, expressing gratitude for the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh in improving educational facilities in the state.

Bali also revealed plans to introduce digital libraries at various locations in the state, providing readers with access to a diverse collection of digital documents over the internet. In a bid to enhance the recreational landscape, RS Bali announced a generous allocation of funds. Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore.

Recognising the aftermath of the Kangra flood, a sum of Rs 3 lakh was pledged for the channelization of drains, and directives were issued to provide designated spaces for street vendors. Bali further shared plans for future collaborations with the Chief Minister, including discussions about building a complex on vacant land in Tehsil Chowk.

Welcoming the chief guest, Kangra Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Somil Gautam highlighted the pivotal role of public libraries in providing the youth with opportunities to shape their future.
The event witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including President of Youth Congress Kangra Ishant Chaudhary, former MLAs Surendra Kaku and Amit Verma, and Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, who addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by SDM Nagrota Wagwa Munish Sharma, Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, State General Secretary Ajay Verma, DSP Ankit Sharma, Municipal Council Vice President Suman Verma, Congress State Spokesperson Ashok Himachali, and BDC President Babita Sandhu. Councillor Sanjeev Gupta, Temple Officer Neelam Kumari, Child Development Project Officer Vandana Katoch, Country Congress Committee Member Rajesh Raja, Youth Congress President Ishant Chaudhary, Video Tavinder Chanauriya, State Congress Committee Member Nishu Mogra, Executive of Nagrota Bagwan Officer Kanchan Bala, Rita Mankotia, BDC member Kanta Saroch, along with officers, employees, and workers from various departments, were also present. (ANI)

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Himachal’s Kangra Tea gets EU’s GI tag

‘Kangra tea’ is a type of tea derived from the leaves, buds and tender stems of the Camellia sinensis species as cultivated in the Kangra valley (Himachal Pradesh, India)…reports Asian Lite News

Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra Tea on Wednesday got a European Union Geographical Indication Tag (GI tag).

“India#Kangra #Tea gets EU #GI tag. EU & #India both lay strong emphasis on GI, attaching high importance to local food, maintaining local traditions and preserving and promoting rich cultural heritage.#EUIndiaEkSaath,” tweeted the EU official organization, EU in India. The tag will help Kangra tea to get an opportunity to enter the European market. Kangra tea received the Indian GI tag in 2005. Since 1999, the cultivation and development of tea have improved constantly in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh.

“Today we registered a new Geographical Indication from India! EU-India. #Kangra tea is grown 900-1,400 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the Dhauladhar mountain range in the Western Himalayas. It has a nutty, woody aroma and a sweet aftertaste,” tweeted EU Agriculture.

The development and cultivation of Kangra tea are being promoted and looked after by four departments Tea Board of India Regional office Palampur, cooperative and agriculture departments of the state and CSIR, IHBT Palampur and Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University, Palampur.

‘Kangra tea’ is a type of tea derived from the leaves, buds and tender stems of the Camellia sinensis species as cultivated in the Kangra valley (Himachal Pradesh, India).

‘Kangra tea’ leaves’ main characteristics are: a multi-stemmed frame, and narrow leaves. ‘Kangra tea’ is planted from seed stock raised in the Kangra valley and other selected varieties for the region.

‘Kangra tea’ has distinctive nutty, winter-green, woody floral aromas in its flavour profile. The ‘Kangra tea’ imparts a sweet aftertaste. ‘Kangra tea’ has a light colour and high body in liquor.

‘Kangra tea’ leaves contain up to 13 per cent catechins and up to 3 per cent caffeine and amino acids such as theanine, glutamine, and tryptophan.

The teas produced in the Kangra Valley are green, oolong, white and orthodox black types.

‘Kangra tea’ is produced in several areas located on the slopes of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges of the Western Himalayas. These areas are Palampur, Baijnath, Kangra, and Dharmshala in the district of Kangra; Jogindernagar in the district of Mandi, and Bhatiyat in the district of Chamba.

The Kangra area, as defined in this application, enjoys the very specific geographical conditions prevailing in the snow-clad Dhauladhar mountain ranges in the Himalayas. Altitude is one very specific feature of the area as all the tea plantations are set within the altitude range of 900 to 1400 m in the mountain ranges.

The Kangra area also yearly receives high amounts of rainfall. The city of Dharmshala and its surrounding areas are indeed recorded to be the second highest rain-receiving areas after Mawsynram of Meghalaya state in India. The average rainfall at Dharmshala ranges between 270-350 cm per year.

‘Kangra tea’ is produced using high efficiency whole leaf-orthodox manufacture which means that ‘Kangra tea’ is made up of whole leaf and flavour-enriched leaves with the highest content of polyphenols (catechins). (ANI)

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Congress set to form next govt in Himachal

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda on Thursday said the Congress will form its government in Himachal Pradesh going by the present election result trends…reports Asian Lite News

Himachal Pradesh has followed the tradition of alternating governments in the past four decades and the Congress and the BJP were directly pitted against each other in the hill state. Congress is looking to form the next government in the 68 member state assembly as it was leading in 40 seats, according to data on the Election Commission website.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda on Thursday said the Congress will form its government in Himachal Pradesh going by the present election result trends.

“As per trends, we are going to form our government in Himachal Pradesh. I would be leaving soon for Shimla along with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Shukla,” Hooda said.

The Congress has asked Hooda, Baghel and Shukla to leave for Shimla and keep its flock of MLAs together and hold consultations for government formation there.

The Congress had campaigned extensively in Himachal Pradesh, urging voters to maintain the tradition of voting out the incumbent.

The election observer of Congress for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday expressed hopes of forming government in the hill state judging by the ongoing ECI trends.

Baghel, while addressing mediapersons also stressed his apprehensions of horse-trading of the Congress MLAs.

“Though Congress is leading in many constituencies in Himachal, there is a neck-and-neck competition at many others. We should wait till the election results are announced as the counting is still underway,” Bhupesh Baghel said in his address to mediapersons in Raipur.

While mentioning that he will go to the hill state via the national capital, Baghel expressed hopes and said their expectation of forming a government in Himachal “appears to be coming true”.

When asked if the Himachal MLAs will be brought to Raipur amid the apprehensions of ‘horse-trading’, Baghel said that they need to be cautious.

BJP crosses 150 mark in Gujarat

Bharatiya Janata Party is currently leading on 152 seats in the latest trends as the counting of votes is progressing, thus clearly indicating that the party is simultaneously breaking its own record of 127 seats and also shattering the highest previous electoral record of 147 achieved by the Madhav Singh Solanki Congress government in 1985.

The BJP is leading on 152 seats, according to the latest trends on all the 182 seats by the Election Commission till 11 am. The BJP, if manages to win 152 seats in the state, will not only thrash its own record of winning the highest ever by the party in the 2002 Assembly elections with 127 seats but also break record of getting the highest number of seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections in 1985 by the Congress’ Madhav Singh Solanki government which had won 149 seats.

The exit polls had suggested that the BJP will come to power for the seventh time in the state with a thumping majority.

The counting of votes for the Gujarat Assembly elections began on Thursday at 8 am.

The counting in Gujarat began at 37 centres in 33 districts.

Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer P Bharathi said that 182 counting observers, 182 election officers and 494 assistant election officers are on duty for the counting process. There will be an additional 78 Assistant Election Officers for the counting of votes. In addition, 71 additional Assistant Election Officers have been assigned responsibility for the electronically transmitted postal ballot system in the previous polls

Assembly elections in Gujarat were held in two phases on December 1 and 5 respectively.

The approximate voter turnout in Gujarat by the end of the second phase of the Gujarat elections was recorded at 59.11 per cent.

During the first phase of polling on December 1, Gujarat saw an overall turnout of 63.14 per cent. While polling for 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh was held on November 12.

Meanwhile, the exit polls have indicated a clear win for the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat.

BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remaining in the Chief Minister’s post for the longest time before becoming the Prime Minister. Congress gave a tough fight to the ruling BJP in the last assembly elections in 2017. However, AAP may spoil the game for Congress by taking away a significant vote share in their favour. (ANI)

ALSO READ-EXIT POLLS: BJP to sweep Gujarat; tight race in Himachal

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Mumbai beat Himachal Pradesh by 3 wickets to win maiden title

With four needed off four, Tanush Kotian hit a six over the fine-leg boundary to finish the game for Mumbai…reports Asian Lite News

Domestic giants Mumbai produced a near-perfect performance to beat Himachal Pradesh by three wickets in the final and won their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title at Eden Gardens, on Saturday.

Put into bat first, Himachal posted a total of 143/8 in 20 overs with Ekant Sen (37 off 29) top-scoring for them. In reply, Mumbai chased down the target in 19.3 overs with three wickets in hand.

Chasing a moderate total, Mumbai were off to a poor start as Rishi Dhawan dismissed Prithvi Shaw (11) and Ajinkya Rahane (1) in the Power-play. However, in-form Shreyas Iyer (34 off 26) stitched two valuable partnerships with Yashasvi Jaiswal (27) and Sarfaraz Khan (36 not out off 31) to take Mumbai to a dominant position in the game.

When Iyer got out to Vaibhav Arora in the 14th over, Mumbai were left needing only 48 runs in 40 balls. But, pacer Arora had other plans as he dismissed both Shivam Dube (7) and Aman Khan (6) in the 17th over. In the very next over, Shams Mulani got out, leaving Mumbai in a tricky position.

It was Sarfaraz Khan, who bailed Mumbai out of trouble. With 25 runs needed off 14 balls, he managed to hit a few lusty blows in the penultimate over, bringing the equation to six runs off the last over. With four needed off four, Tanush Kotian hit a six over the fine-leg boundary to finish the game for Mumbai.

Earlier, Himachal struggled against Mohit Awasthi’s swing and lost two early wickets. Prashant Chopra and Nikhil Gangta gave their team a brief revival but that was undone quickly by Tanush Kotian’s triple strike in the middle overs.

Akash Vasisth (25), Ekant Sen (37) and Mayank Dagar (21) scored valuable runs in the late overs to help the side recover from 58 for 6 in the 10th over to end with 143 for 8 in 20 overs, which wasn’t enough in the end.

Brief scores: Himachal 143/8 in 20 overs (Ekant Sen 37, Akash Vasisth 25; Tanush Kotian 3-15, Mohit Avasthi 3-21) lost to Mumbai 146/7 in 19.3 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 36 not out, Shreyas Iyer 34; Vaibhav Arora 3-27, Mayank Dagar 2-24) by 3 wickets

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Modi launches pharma, hydro projects in Himachal

With the launch of the Vande Bharat Express service, the travel time between Delhi and Chandigarh would be brought down to three hours. From October 19, it will run six days a week, except Friday…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during day-long visit of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday flagged off high-speed luxury fourth Vande Bharat Express and laid the foundation stones of Bulk Drug Park that will attract investment of around Rs 10,000 crore and provide employment to more than 20,000 people, and two mega hydropower projects.

This is the Prime Minister’s ninth visit to the state in the five years and second in almost a week.

Besides flagging off the train and laying the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park, he also inaugurated the Rs 128 crore Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) set up in Una well ahead of the Assembly polls in the BJP-ruled state.

Later, the Prime Minister laid foundation stones for two hydropower projects of nearly Rs 700 crore and launched the Rs 3,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III at another function in Chamba town.

After launching development projects at both places, Modi at public meetings said these will have a positive impact on the region’s progress and this became a reality with the state’s double-engine government that has ensured “approvals for projects and their fast progress”.

At both venues, chants of ‘Modi hai toh mumkin hai’ echoed in the air.

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, who is leading the party’s election campaign that has gained momentum, said this was the ninth visit of the Prime Minister which reflected his bonding with the state and its people.

He said Congress leaders were baffled due to the visits of the Prime Minister, as they knew the Congress would be completely wiped out from the state in the coming Assembly elections.

With the launch of the Vande Bharat Express service, the travel time between Delhi and Chandigarh would be brought down to three hours. From October 19, it will run six days a week, except Friday.

Running from Amb Andaura to New Delhi, the inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express is the fourth Vande Bharat train to be introduced in the country and is an advanced version compared to the earlier ones, being much lighter and capable of reaching higher speed in shorter duration.

It accelerates to 100 km per hour in just 52 seconds. The introduction of the train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel.

The Prime Minister’s clarion call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India has led to the country moving swiftly towards attainment of self-reliance across multiple sectors, through support of various new initiatives of the government.

One such key sector is pharmaceuticals, and in order to bring in Aatmanirbharta in this sector the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park at Haroli to be built at a cost of Rs 1,923 crore.

The park will help reduce dependence on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or pharmaceutical raw material imports. It is expected to attract investment of around Rs 10,000 crore and provide employment to more than 20,000 people. It will also give a fillip to the economic activities in the region.

The foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una was laid by the Prime Minister in 2017. Currently, more than 530 students are pursuing education in the institute.

After the inauguration and the public meeting in Una, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two hydropower projects — the 48 MW Chanju-III Hydro-electric Project and the 30 MW Deothal Chanju Hydro-electric Project — in Chamba, the historical town visited by a Prime Minister for the first time after 1981.

Both these hydro projects will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get an annual revenue of around Rs 110 crore from these projects.

Prime Minister Modi also launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III for upgradation of around 3,125 km of roads in the state.

More than Rs 420 crore has been sanctioned by the Central government under this phase for the upgradation of 440 km of roads in 15 border and far-flung blocks of the state.

Amid a massive crowd at a public meeting in Chamba, Modi said the BJP’s double-engine government made domestic gas connections available for every home in the state.

Trying to build a bond with the locals, Modi said during the Minjar Mela a teacher from Chamba shared information about this place through a letter which he shared in his monthly radio talk show ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

He also fondly praised Devika, a Class nine girl student from Kerala, who sang folk song ‘Chamba kitni ki door’ narrating the town’s picturesque beauty. The song has gone viral.

Launching the rural roads scheme, Modi said in the past eight years 12,000 km roads have been built in rural areas.

The Election Commission, which just concluded its three-day visit to the state, is likely to announce the election schedule in the next few days.

The BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had won all the four seats that saw 72.25 per cent polling.

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Woman killed as heavy rains batter Himachal

NH 5 has been closed since morning due to a landslide near Broni nullah at Jhakri, following which the connectivity road to Kinnaur has been closed…reports Asian Lite News

A woman was killed while two others were injured due to landslides following heavy rain in the last 24 hours in Himachal Pradesh. Since Tuesday night, incidents of cloudbursts and landslides have been reported at many places in the state.

Landslides occurred in Dhalli area of Shimla as incessant heavy rain continued late on Tuesday night. A young woman sleeping on the roadside was killed due to the landslide, while two others were injured. The injured are being treated at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC), Shimla.

As per information, the girls, who are originally from Haryana, sold medicines on the roadside. The deceased has been identified as Kareena (14), while Asha (16) and Kulwinder (14) were injured in the landslide.

A cloudburst was reported from Choj Nala in Manikaran Valley of Kullu district. According to eyewitnesses, property worth crores of rupees, including the bridge built in Choz village and the houses of the people, has been washed away in the rain.

How much damage has been done or how many people have been washed away has not been estimated yet, there is still a flood situation in this area. The administration is waiting for the water to recede.

NH 5 has been closed since morning due to a landslide near Broni nullah at Jhakri, following which the connectivity road to Kinnaur has been closed.

A flash flood has also been reported in Thungi Khad in Morang, Kinnaur. At present, the administration is engaged in relief and rescue work.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday reviewed the administration’s preparedness to tackle various emergency situations arising out of heavy rain in the state with the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts through video conferencing from Shimla.

The Chief Minister directed the officers to make foolproof arrangements for managing disasters that are arising due to heavy rains. He said that an adequate number of people and machinery should be deployed in natural calamities-prone areas.

He said, “The rains have increased over the past few days and naturally, there are incidences of landslides, floods and cloudbursts during the rainy season in Himachal Pradesh. One such incident has happened in an area of Kullu district. The information that has been received in the matter is that five people are missing and there has been damage. The camps which were set up by the locals (for the tourists) as well as the tourists, have also been damaged.”

He has directed the administration to take appropriate steps in view of the security at camping sites situated on the banks of rivers in the state. He assured that strict action will be taken against the erring officers involved in the laxity in work related to disaster management. He directed to ensure the availability of Quick Reaction Team and Emergency Operation Centres that would be functional round the clock at the district and sub-division level for disaster management.

He also ordered that the roads affected due to landslides or heavy rains should be repaired immediately.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to encourage the tourists to take precautions while visiting disaster-prone areas, so that the tourists do not face any inconvenience and their safety can be ensured.

“If an untoward incident is reported, we would rush help to the spot. With the prospect of heavy rainfall in the coming days, there is some risk. We’d stay on high alert so that timely action can be taken,” he added.

ALSO READ-Tap water reaches India’s highest village in Himachal

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Tap water reaches India’s highest village in Himachal

So far, 24 blocks, 2,331 gram panchayats and 14,661 villages have been fully covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission, it said…reports Asian Lite News

Tashigang, a hamlet located at an altitude of 15,256 feet in the picturesque Spiti Valley and close to the Indo-China border, has been provided with functional domestic tap connections, officials said on Sunday.

This village in Lahaul-Spiti district is situated at the highest altitude in India.

The state government has achieved cent per cent target of providing functional household tap connections (FHTC) in four districts — Una, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti under the Jal Jeevan Mission and achieved 93.05 per cent target, an official statement of the state government said.

So far, 24 blocks, 2,331 gram panchayats and 14,661 villages have been fully covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission, it said.

During the last two and a half years, 8.44 lakh households were provided tap connections, while in the past 72 years only 7.63 lakh households were provided connections, as per the statement.

Under the mission, Rs 4,418.37 crore has been allocated by the government of India to the state, including an incentive of Rs 1,028.43 crore, it said.

Water supply has been provided to 411 habitations having 22,763 houses in remote Kinnaur district. Under the mission, 219 schemes were approved in the district, out of which 155 schemes completed.

In another remote district of Lahaul-Spiti, water supply has been given to 364 habitations having 7,284 houses. Seven schemes are being implemented in the district. The total estimated cost of the works being executed is Rs 122 crore.

Chamba district has been selected as an aspirational district by NITI Aayog. In this district, including tribal sub-divisions of Pangi and Bharmour, work is being done on schemes of Rs 420 crore.

The target of 100 per cent coverage has been achieved by providing functional tap connections to all 121,752 households in the district, said the statement.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, women’s participation has been ensured in the district in resource selection, execution of schemes and field water testing for which the district has been appreciated by the government of India.

In Una district, 15 schemes costing Rs 196 crore are being implemented. The cent per cent target of providing functional tap connections to all 115,949 houses in the district has been achieved.

“In the assessment done by the government of India in 2020-21, Himachal Pradesh has been rated as the best in overall efficiency in quantity and quality of potable water available at the consumer level,” the statement claimed.

“The availability of quality water supply at consumer level has improved the standard of living and health conditions. The dependence of water from natural sources has reduced, which has saved people’s time and they are now using their time to earn their livelihood,” it said.

ALSO READ-Himachal to boost wool production

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Himachal to boost wool production

The state has two popular breeds of sheep — the Rampur Bushairi and Gaddi — popular for producing high-quality carpet wool…reports Asian Lite News

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a Rs 8.5 crore community-based structured breeding programme for the genetic improvement of indigenous sheep and to double the production of wool, Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar said on Sunday.

The state government has imported 240 Merino sheep, 40 males and 200 females, with an outlay of Rs 6 crore under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) so that superior exotic germplasm could be infused to achieve the target of 3,000 tons quality wool production by next five years.

The state has recorded wool production of around 1,482 tons in 2020-21. Chamba is the top wool producing district with annual production of around 425 tons, followed by Kullu and Shimla, which recorded 249 tons and 196 tons, respectively.

The average wool production in the state is about 1,599 grams per sheep every year.

State-run State Cooperative Wool Procurement and Marketing Federation Ltd (Woolfed) has a modernised plant for wool scouring in Banuri in Palampur where around 11,500 kg wool was processed in 2020-2021, said Kanwar.

The state has two popular breeds of sheep — the Rampur Bushairi and Gaddi — popular for producing high-quality carpet wool.

The Rampur Bushairi breed is reared in Shimla district, while Gaddi is reared in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

The state has 7,91,345 sheep that produce coarse carpet quality wool.

The minister said the breeding programme would help improve the wool quality. Also wool of 21-22 microns, suitable for apparel production, would be produced. It will be on a par with world’s premium quality fabrics produced in Australia and New Zealand.

Himachal Pradesh is the sixth largest producer of wool in the country, contributing four per cent to the country’s total wool production.

The Merino sheep, a Spanish breed prized for its soft, fine, and lustrous fiber, is being reared at government breeding farms in Nagwain in Mandi district where facilities have been strengthened with a cost of Rs 2 crore to meet requirements of the imported livestock.

The sheep have well acclimated to the climate of the state and have produced 800 healthy lambs through artificial insemination.

ICAR-Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute has set up a wool testing laboratory in Kullu to confirm its quality and for facilitating wool producers, added Kanwar.

ALSO READ-South Korea to invest in Himachal

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South Korea to invest in Himachal


A state-owned agency, KOTRA is the apex foreign trade promotion agency of the Korean government with offices across the globe…reports Asian Lite News

A high-level South Korean trade delegation, comprising heads of its apex trade and industry organisations, including the embassy, visited the Himachal Pradesh capital on Thursday to explore possibilities of investment and collaborations in upcoming sectors.

The delegation met Industries Department Director Rakesh Kumar Prajapati and other key officials.

Both sides discussed economic and bilateral cooperation between Korea and the Himachal Pradesh government. The Korean delegation expressed interest in electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, EV components, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices in the state which has a huge potential for Korean companies.

They also agreed that several sectors such as renewable energy, power, agro and food processing and tourism might be opportunities for collaboration between companies from Korea and Himachal Pradesh.

Led by Kwang Seok Yang, Commercial Attach, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the delegation comprised heads of Korea Plus, Invest India, KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure) and Chungcheongnam-Do Economic Promotion Agency (CEPA).

According to the delegation, KOTRA will share the features of Himachal Pradesh with Korean companies based in India as well as in Korea to attract them to this promising and investment-friendly state.

“I hope, post this visit multiple opportunities open up in Himachal Pradesh,” said Kwang Seok Yang, the Commercial Attache, Korean Embassy, New Delhi.

A state-owned agency, KOTRA is the apex foreign trade promotion agency of the Korean government with offices across the globe.

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