HP cabinet approves three ropeways, setting up of administrative tribunal

DHARAMSHALA: Hanging fire for over a decade, three ropeways were approved in cabinet meeting on Friday — Dharmshala to Mcleodganj, Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to Lift and to Mall Road Shimla, Chamunda Temple to Adi Himani Chamunda. All these would be established under public-private-partnership (PPP) model. In addition, approval was accorded to Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP) with certain guidelines as per TRP, 2014 of the Government of India.
Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Virbhadra Singh in Dharamshala decided that the annual fee concession in respect of the Dharmshala-Mcleodganj ropeway would be renegotiated by a committee comprising of commissioner (tourism), special secretary (finance) and chief general manager (HPIDB). The cabinet said that committee will also make an attempt to improve annual concession fee in respect of the Palchan-Rohtang ropeway. "Companies like TATA have approached us for these projects and we are waiting for more such reliable companies to come forward," said Sudhir Sharma, urban development minister.
On Friday, the cabinet decided to constitute Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal with two benches having one judicial member and one administrative each, having jurisdiction throughout the state. While to give relief to Bhakra oustees, the cabinet decided to convert on freehold-basis the plots of those Bhakra Dam oustees who had already been allotted plots in New Bilaspur Township earlier, on perpetual lease holder basis for 999 years, at token consideration of Rs1 per square meter.
Also, 88 posts in the revenue department which has been already created and also accorded approval for creating 45 posts of various categories for the tehsils Nagrota Bagwan and Baldwara and in Daralaghat and Bhadrota sub-tehsils. Decision was taken to fill 433 posts of forest guards on contract basis from the present on-going recruitment process.
It also decided to substitute entry No.1 of schedule II appended to the Himachal Pradesh Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Area Act, 2010. Approval was given to introduce Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, 2015. Approval was given to enhance the registration allowance in respect of tehsildars and naib tehsildars from Rs 200 per month to Rs 2,000 per month with effect from April 1, 2015.
It was decided to construct additional accommodation and alteration of circuit house at Hamirpur and to handover the same to the Himachal Pradesh Corporation to be run as a hotel. It approved Himachal Pradesh Co-Operative Societies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. It also decided to include Deti and Maharaja Community in the State List.
BOXES:
Small hydel projects cancelled
State cabinet's approval was accorded for canceling few small hydel electric projects in private sector for their non-commitment regarding completing prior project implementation formalities like submission of DPRs. These projects are Ghagas (1MW), Anni-IV (2.50 MW), Najan (1 MW), Suhi (1.50 MW), Chachul (3 MW), Joiner Top-I (5 MW) and Sainj Bhagaru (0.80 MW).
The cabinet also decided to restore the Chatarkhand (1.5 MW) Hydel Project in Shimla district with small amount of penalty fee for delaying the project. Besides, change of elevation and capacity enhancements of Chandernahan (4 MW) in district Shimla. It also approved expansion of M/S JP Himachal Cement Plant at village Baga in Solan district for enhancement of clinkerization Capacity.
Cabinet mulls over blue beacon for sub-judges
During the cabinet meet held here on Friday, the letter of the high court pertaining to the lights for the judicial employees in Himachal Pradesh was also raised. The discussions were held for providing blue lights to sub-judges in various courts. Ajay Mittal, additional chief secretary (transport) told the issue was discussed in the cabinet meet but yet the approval on the papers has to come. "Only after the orders comes to us with approval of the minutes of cabinet meet, the status could be cleared. The issue was discussed but decision has yet to come." While according to the notification blue lights so far are used by IAS/IPS officers, district and session judges, DCs and SPs, principal chief secretaries, officers of transport having challaning powers and excise and taxation officers in districts.
BOX:
Report sought from Tibetan government in exile over encroachments
It was also decided in the cabinet meet of Friday that Tibetan government in exile would asked to present a report on the illegal encroachments in Mcleodganj. There were about 210 such cases related to Tibetans, while 1,090 in total in Kangra district. Action have been taken in all other cases except for Tibetans in exile. Now, the government has decided to act after the report of the Tibetan government in exile is received. The Tibetans registered with them as settlers would be regularized while other places would be evacuated from them.