CM condemns Pahalgam terrorists attack

*Expresses solidarity with victims

SHIMLA, 23.04.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has condemned the attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday by terrorists in which many tourists were killed and injured.

Terming it a cowardly act, the Chief Minister said that such incidents were not acceptable in the civilized society and anti social elements must be curbed at all costs. He said that, "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this incredibly painful time. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the families of the victims and with all those affected by this barbaric act.

Sh. Sukhu has prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. He wished speedy recovery to the injured.

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Govt. prohibits ban of small PET water bottles and littering of non-biodegradable waste

SHIMLA, 23.04.25-Keeping in view the environmental concerns, the state government, in exercise of powers under sub-section (1) of Section 3-A of the HP Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995, has issued a notification prohibiting the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles (up to 500 ml) in all indoor official meetings, conferences, and events organized by the government departments, Boards, Corporations and other state government organizations.

Director, Environment, Science and Technology D.C. Rana said here today that this decision has been made keeping in view the widespread use of PET water bottles which has raised significant environmental concerns due to their high potential for littering.

He said this prohibition also applies to HPTDC hotels and private hotels in the state. These entities shall adopt sustainable alternatives such as glass bottles, water dispensers/kiosks of steel containers. He added that all the government organizations would carry out IEC activities to discourage the use of small plastic PET bottles in public interest. The state government has also authorized the officials from different departments to compound offences in respect of these prohibited items.

The State Government has imposed fine of Rs. 5000 for littering of one time use plastic items, compostable and bio-degradable plastic carry bags, used for serving and consuming food or otherwise, by individual(s) or any institution/commercial establishment (educational institutions, offices, hotels, shops, restaurants, sweetshops, dhabas, temple complexes, industrial establishment, banquet halls etc.) within its premises and on roads, streets, hill slopes, drains, forest areas, public parks, all public places etc.

The ban on the use of small PET bottles will come into effect from 1 June, 2025 in public interest, allowing Government organizations, including HPTDC and private hotels, sufficient time to dispose of existing stock and avoid financial loss

D.C Rana said that the state government has also imposed ban on use of certain non-bio degradable materials and littering of non-biodegradable waste in the state under above mentioned Act to prevent pollution, save and protect environment.

He said keeping in view the environmental concerns, it has been directed that all taxi operators, public (HRTC etc.) transport and other public private transport vehicles owners and driver will install 'Car Bins' in their vehicles for collection of waste and the same shall be done at designated places.

The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI shall pass/register the taxis/transport vehicles only after installation of "Car Bins". The government has authorized the officials from different departments for entry and inspection.

He added that the government has imposed fine of Rs. 1500 for littering of bio degradable material and Rs. 10,000 for non-installation of "Garbage bins" in taxis/vehicles for public interest. The above will come into force from 29 April, 2025 in the entire State.

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Govt. to evolve a mechanism to check corrupt practices pertaining to transit passes

SHIMLA, 23.04.25-The state government will evolve a mechanism to check corrupt practices associated with the misuse of transit passes in the transportation of minerals to prevent royalty losses and maintain the pace of developmental works in the State. These directions were given by the Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over a meeting of Industries department, here today.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over reports indicating the use of fake transit passes on multiple occasions for mineral transportation, resulting in significant royalty losses to the state exchequer. To address this, the state government had earlier introduced Rule 81A, which mandates a deduction of Rs. 80 as royalty and Rs. 20 as penalty per tonne from the panchayats and other executing agencies undertaking developmental works, in case transit passes are not available. However, the implementation of Rule 81A is currently under stay by the High Court and the matter is scheduled for hearing on 25^th April.

In view of the situation and to ensure timely execution of developmental works, the Chief Minister instructed the Industries department to explore all possible solutions and alternatives in this regard.

A delegation of representatives of PRIs also met the Chief Minister on Tuesday and urged him to address this issue.

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Advocate General, H.P. High Court Anup Rattan, Secretary Law Sharad Kumar Lagwal, Director Industries Dr. Yunus, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

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CM asks officers to uphold values of honesty and transparency in governance

SHIMLA, 23.04.25-A delegation of HAS officers called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today. It was a courtesy call. The delegation comprised six HAS Probationers of batch 2024 and 16 promotee HAS Officers of batch-2022, 2023 and 2024, who were currently undergoing training at Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration, Shimla.

During the interaction, the Chief Minister directed all the officers to uphold the values of honesty and transparency to deliver better services to the people of the State. He said that the present State Government is committed for good governance and HAS Officers can play a vital role in this regard. He instructed them to prioritize the flagship programmes of the State Government and ensure that benefits reach the most vulnerable sections of society. He called for an end to delaying the developmental works and importance of setting clear timeline to achieve the desired targets. He also asked them to focus on incorporating technology to bring efficiency in governance.

Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma was also present on the occasion.

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RD department signs MoU with ACC Cements for co-processing of non-recyclable plastic waste

SHIMLA -23^rd April, 2025The Rural Development Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ACC Cements Ltd. today to address the pressing issue of non-recyclable plastic waste management in rural areas of the State.

Under this partnership, ACC Cements Ltd. will collaborate with the RD department to co-process non-recyclable plastic waste of Gram Panchayat areas in its cement kiln. This innovative approach aligns with environmentally sound waste disposal methods and contributes to the Government’s mission of maintaining State ecological balance.

Previously, the Department has signed MoU with Ambuja Cements Ltd. Darlaghat, Ultra Tech Cements Ltd. and Healing Himalayas Foundation for effective waste management in the rural areas of the State.

The MoU underscores the shared commitment of the department towards fostering sustainable waste management practices. It leverages ACC Cements Ltd. advanced technology to process and dispose of non-recyclable waste, reducing environmental pollution and minimizing landfill use. The ACC Cements Ltd. plant at Barmana will cater the non-recyclable plastic waste of the districts viz. Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi.

Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh stated that “This collaboration marks a significant step toward achieving the vision of a clean and green Himachal Pradesh. By partnering with ACC Cements Ltd. the department will ensure that non-recyclable plastic waste is managed sustainably while reducing its impact on the environment.”

Secretary, Rural Development Rajesh Sharma said this collaboration marks a significant step towards promoting environmental sustainability and effectively managing plastic waste in the state.

Director, Rural Development Raghav Sharma said that by leveraging advanced co-processing technology at the ACC Cement Plant, we will now be able to responsibly manage non-recyclable plastic waste. This initiative will not only help reduce landfill use and environmental pollution but also reinforce commitment to a cleaner, greener Himachal.

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RD department and Waste Warriors Society join hands for sustainable waste management in rural areas

SHIMLA- 23^rd April, 2025-The Rural Development Department and Waste Warriors Society (NGO) working in Indian Himalayan region signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to implement sustainable waste management practices across rural areas of the state.

The Mou was signed in the presence of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh. This partnership marks a significant step towards achieving cleaner and healthier villages in Himachal Pradesh.

Previously the Department has signed MoU with Ambuja Cements Ltd. Darlaghat, Ultra Tech Cements Ltd. and Healing Himalayas Foundation for effective waste management in the rural areas of the State.

The MoU outlines a comprehensive strategy to tackle the challenges of waste management of rural communities through a multi-pronged approach. Key initiatives under this agreement include capacity building programmes, educating residents about the importance of responsible waste management and promoting behavioural change, hands-on training on waste collection, composting and recycling and infrastructure development.

Anirudh Singh stated this collaboration is crucial for realizing vision of clean and sustainable rural Himachal Pradesh. By combining the expertise of Waste Warriors with our reach and resources, we are confident in our ability to create lasting positive change.

Secretary, Rural Development Department, Rajesh Sharma, said this strategic alliance between the Rural Development department and WWS signifies a strong commitment to achieving a cleaner, greener, and healthier rural Himachal Pradesh.

Director, Rural Development, Raghav Sharma, stated that by promoting community-led waste management, exposure visits, and active involvement of Gram Panchayats, this initiative empowers local communities to take ownership of their environment.

CEO, Waste Warriors Society Vishal Kumar added that "We are excited to partner with the Rural Development department to bring our experience in sustainable waste management to the villages of Himachal Pradesh. Our goal is to empower communities to take ownership of their waste and create a cleaner, healthier environment for all."

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Horticulture Minister directs to impose penalty on firms on failing to complete solar fencing work

SHIMLA-23^rd April, 2025-Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi chaired the meeting of the Governing Council of HP Shiva Project here today. He directed the officials that in a penalty should be imposed as per the contract in case the firms engaged in solar fencing and field preparation work fail to complete the work in time,.

He asked Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni to provide high quality plants of plum and Japanese fruit (persimmon) to the farmers. He also directed to ensure the purchase of water-soluble nutrients and pesticides of branded companies through tender process besides purchase of high-tech spray kits, pumps and other equipment with the cooperation of HPMC.

The Minister said that the HP Shiva Project is being implemented in seven districts of the state with total outlay of 163 million dollars (Rs 1292 crore) and so far, Rs 190 crore have been spent under this project. Under this project, solar fencing work is proposed on 4000 hectares of land and a target has been set to complete the work on 2750 hectares of land by June 2025. So far, solar fencing work has been completed on 828 hectares of land.

Jagat Singh Negi also directed that only 'true-to-type' plants should be given to the farmers, whose quality is being tested in the molecular lab located in Neri, which has also been approved by the Asian Development Bank. Also, samples taken from the farmers' fields are also being tested, the report of which is made available in 7-8 days.

It was informed in the meeting that the Nauni university will provide 40,000 plum and persimmon plants each by February, 2026 and a total of one lakh plants by the year 2027.

As many as 66 agenda items were approved in the meeting. It was informed that an integrated digital platform is being developed under the HP Shiva project, in which 75 types of artificial intelligence based services like plant protection, disease management, soil testing, moisture level, weather information, tracing and tracking of production, capacity building and marketing etc. will be made available. Also, cluster farmers will also get the benefit of carbon credit generated from the gardens.

Director, Horticulture Vinay Kumar, Director, Agriculture Kumud Singh, Managing Director, HPMC Sudesh Mokhta, Special Secretary, Finance Saurabh Jasal, Director, HP Shiva Project Devendra Thakur and other senior officers were present in the meeting.