CM congratulates SDRF for securing first position in national competitions

SHIMLA,26.04.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has extended his felicitation to State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for securing first position in the National level SDRF, CSRR competitions organized by NDRF at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh recently.

The Chief Minister lauded the outstanding performance of the team and said that Himachal Pradesh was prone to many kinds of natural disasters and SDRF has to play an instrumental role in saving the valuable lives and carrying out rescue and rehabilitation operations. He said that the State Government was committed to strengthen the SDRF and equip it with the latest technology and modern equipments.

Sh. Sukhu directed the Home department to establish a dog squad with SDRF to enhance rescue operations during natural calamities. He also instructed to commence the recruitment of 700 Home Guards immediately to bolster the manpower.

ADGP Home Guards and Civil Defence department Satwant Atwal expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister on behalf of the department for allocating Rs. 12 crore towards the procurement of modern equipments for the SDRF. She said that these latest equipments were also showcased during the competition at Ghaziabad and contributed to the team's success.

The winning team comprising 18 members from Shimla, Mandi and Kangra Companies first clinched the top spot at the North Zone competitions and then bagged first position in the National event defeating seven States of the country.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, OSD to the Chief Minister Gopal Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Home Onkar Chand Sharma and senior officers were also present on the occasion.

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HPTDC to procure supplies worth Rs. 20-25 Crore from Food and Supplies Corporation

Shimla, 26.04.25-Chairman HPTDC R.S. Bali said that the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) would now procure food items and other essential supplies directly from the Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation. He said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between HPTDC and Food Supplies Corporation here today.

R.S. Bali said that under this agreement, HPTDC would procure goods worth Rs. 20 to 25 crore annually through the Food and Supplies Corporation. At present HPTDC makes annual market purchases worth around Rs. 30 to 40 crore. As per the new arrangement, the Food and Supplies Corporation would supply A-grade material to HPTDC hotels, including ration, groceries and other essential items. He said that HPTDC would make payments to the Corporation within a period of one and a half month.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, R.S. Bali said that this agreement would benefit HPTDC by ensuring the availability of quality supplies at lower rates as compared to the open market. Quality parameters have been mutually agreed upon and shared with the Corporation to ensure the highest standards.

R.S. Bali further said that HPTDC has achieved the highest-ever profit in the last two and a half years. The annual turnover of the Corporation has risen from Rs. 78 crore to Rs. 107 crore, crossing the Rs. 100 crore marks for the first time in its history, despite the challenges posed by natural disasters.

He said that during the last Board of Director's meeting in 2022, it was decided to provide gratuity to employees under the revised pay scales of 2016. A total of Rs. 41 crore has been disbursed to employees, in comparison to Rs. 26 crore distributed during the five-year tenure of previous government.

He said that there was a need for renovation and maintenance of HPTDC hotels of the state and discussions have been held with the government in this regard. He said that we have requested for the grant of Rs. 300 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which would be spent on the renovation of HPTDC hotels. He said that this move was aimed to enhance the profitability and increase the turnover of Rs. 300 crore in the near future.

MD HPTDC Rajiv Kumar, MD Civil Supplies Corporation Rajeshwar Goel and senior officers were present during the meeting.

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Agriculture Minister of J&K calls on Chief Minister

SHIMLA, 26.04.25-Agriculture Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Javid Ahmed Dar called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today. It was a courtesy call.

The Minister urged the Chief Minister to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiri people working in Himachal Pradesh. He condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack on tourists.

The Chief Minister said that the people of Himachal Pradesh are peace-loving and deeply committed to the values of brotherhood and harmony. He strongly condemned the gruesome attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. He assured that the State Government would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and protection of Kashmiris residing in Himachal Pradesh.

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Natural farming sub-division to boost economy of farmers of Pangi valley

CM's announcement brings joy to farmers and orchardists of Pangi area

SHIMLA, 26.04.25-The residents of Pangi valley situated along the banks of the Chandrabhaga river are elated with the announcement of making Pangi as the state's first natural farming sub-division. Although, traditional farming methods have been practiced in Pangi valley for centuries but the adoption of natural farming techniques are expected to significantly enhance the economic prosperity of local farmers and orchardists.

This declaration of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has been wholeheartedly welcomed by the people of the Pangi area and the district administration has already accelerated its efforts to implement this decision on the ground.

Around 25,000 residents across 19 panchayats of Pangi valley, the majority are dependent on agriculture and horticulture sectors for their livelihoods. However, traditional farming methods often expose crops to the risk of diseases. On the other hand, the natural farming practices not only offer better protection against such threats but also enhance crop yields which lead to increase the farmer's income.

Ratto Devi , a resident of Bhatwas village, who adopted natural farming two years ago, shares that their ancestors too refrained from using chemicals in agriculture and even today they avoid chemical fertilizers, pesticides or any synthetic treatments for farming. She said that spraying of 'ghanjivamrit' (a natural bio-enhancer) has significantly improved crop production. Similarly, Savitri Devi of Punto village said all the inputs required for natural farming are readily available at home. She said that preparations like 'ghanjivamrit' and 'jivamrit' are used to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity.

A core requirement of natural farming is the indigenous Indian cow, whose dung contains 300 to 500 times more beneficial microorganisms compared to other animals. On the other hand, Laldei said that to protect crops from fungal infections and pests, natural concoctions like sour buttermilk sprays, 'kannai astra' and 'agni astra' were used. She expresses hope that the establishment of a natural farming sub-division will not only promote natural farming across the valley but also substantially enhance the income of farmers and orchardists.

Following the formation of the new government in 2022, multiple initiatives have been undertaken to promote natural farming in Pangi valley. Presently, natural farming is being practiced on approximately 400 hectares of land and over 2,100 farmers have been trained in this agriculture method.

Block Training Manager Pali said that chemical farming was historically never practiced in the region. As of now, 90 percent of the cultivated land is under agriculture while remaining 10 percent is dedicated to horticulture activities. With the consistent efforts of the state government, a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) comprising natural farming practitioners has been established. Through this FPO, apples are being sold at a rate of Rs. 75 per kilogram, while farmers are also receiving fair prices for crops like kidney beans (rajmah), potatoes and peas. The creation of the natural farming sub-division will further benefit the farmer's of the region.

During the state-level Himachal Day celebrations organised for the first time in Pangi this year, the Chief Minister announced the designation of this sub-division as a natural farming sub-division. He also declared a support price of Rs. 60 per kilogram for barley crops cultivated through natural farming methods. The farmers and orchardists of the Pangi valley have extended their gratitude to the state government for these landmark announcements, which will go a long way in strengthening their economic prosperity.