The Cabinet in its meeting held here today accorded approval for enhancement of honorarium of Jal Rakshaks (Water Guards) engaged through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) from Rs. 1350 to Rs. 1500 per month. As many as 2220 Jal Rakshaks would be benefitted from this decision with an outgo of Rs. 8.50 crore annually from the state ex-chequer.The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.Decision was taken to make amendments in Hydropower Policy 2006 in respect to transfer of shares by Himachalis to Non-Himachalis. The Himachalis can sell or transfer 49 percent equity shares to Non-Himachalis at any stage after allotment of projects upto 2 MW capacity and full disinvestment after two years of commissioning of the projects. Similarly, in case of bonafide Himachalis to whom projects upto 2 MW to 5 MW capacity are allotted, they can sell/transfer 51 percent equity share to non-Himachalis at any stage after allotment of projects and full disinvestment after two years of commissioning of the projects. However, subjected to the condition (in both the above cases), it was decided to levy some appropriate fee for transfer of equity.
Besides, the Cabinet gave its nod to cancel the four projects namely Joiner-II (3MW) in district Chamba, Kanda (0.80 MW) in district Sirmaur, Rawin (1 MW) in Shimla district and Chahod (2 MW) in district Mandi.The Cabinet also accorded approval to 100 units of free electricity per month to the families affected by Hydel projects in the State as per the subsidized tariff determined by Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) from time to time with respect to Local Area Development Committees of the districts and the balance amount equivalent to the quantum of subsidy with the state government. This shall be done once in a year since the tariff is determined by HPERC.Besides, it was also decided to provide 35 kilograms of ration to the Above Poverty Line (APL) families in Tribal areas of the State. A decision was taken to provide all three pulses to all the ration card holders irrespective of the number of units on the cards/scale as fixed by the state government.
Jobs/Posts filled or created
It approved for creation of 855 posts of various categories for Shri Lal Bhadur Shastri Medical College, earlier known as ESIC, medical college and hospital Mandi at Ner Chowk.A decision was taken to fill 70 vacant posts of Firemen and 30 posts of Driver-cum-Pump Operators on contract basis in Fire Services Department.To filling up of 65 posts of Drivers in Irrigation and Public Health Department amongst the lower categories in the Department by relaxation of R& P Rules.The Cabinet approved for creation and filling up of as many as 61 posts of various categories for new Government Polytechnic for women at Rehan in district Kangra.It approved to filling up 50 posts of class-IV on contract basis in Co-operation Department besides filling up three posts of Driver in Co-operative Department.Approval was accorded to create ten posts of Law Officers in H.P. Secretariat. It approved to up-grade four posts of Junior Assistant to Senior Assistant in the Directorate of Small Saving.
Decision was taken to fill two posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) on contract basis in Co-operative Department and filling up two posts of computer Operators by promotion from amongst Class-IV employees in Planning department.Approval was accorded for creation of two posts of Protocol Officer with supporting staff in the establishment of District and Sessions Judges.Approval was accorded to fill up two vacant posts of Statistical Assistant and two posts of Junior Office Assistant in Horticulture Department through direct recruitment and to fill up ten posts of Peons on daily wage basis in HP Election Department.A special recruitment drive would be launched to fill the backlog posts against the new posts in every discipline for other Backward Classes (OBC) to overcome the shortfall of the category in the Government job.
Health Sector
The cabinet gave its nod to upgrade Civil Hospital Jawalamukhi to the level of 75 bedded Civil Hospital and up-gradation of HSC Dhanote (Jurahi) to PHC in district Kangra along-with creation of requisite posts.Approval was accorded to open Primary Health Centre in Shivpur Gagret Constituency of Una district and Primary Health Centre at Raja Ka Talab in district Kangra alongwith creation of adequate staff.The Cabinet also approved opening of PHC at Basantpur in Shimla district.It also approved to open Health Sub Centre at village Mohal district Kullu along-with adequate staff.Approval was accorded to upgrade Community Health Centre (CHC), Jawali to 50 bed Civil hospital Jawali along with creation of requisite posts. Besides, it approved CHC with 30 beds at Rey in Jawali.It approved upgradation of Primary Health Centre (PHC) Chandi to Community Health Centre (CHC) and Health sub-centre (HSC) Baba Haripur to PHC in Solan district and PHC Kungrat to CHC, HSC Kuthar Beet to PHC in district Una alongwith creation of requisite staff.It also approved Health dispensaries at Dhalaya, (Bathuwana Jabri), Gawahi (Kohbag) and in Gram Panchayat Okhroo in Shimla district
Other Important Decisions
The cabinet gave its approval to open Sub-Tehsils at Sarahan and at Taklech in Rampur Sub-Division of Shimla district.It approved to open new Hydro Power Engineering College Bandla in district Bilaspur. It approved proposal to the scheme for awards for prisons personnel.The Cabinet approved the proposal for grant of ex-gratia compensation amounting to Rs. 10 lakh on death and Rs. five lakh on permanent disability to the staff deployed on election duty by State Election CommissionThe Cabinet decided to open HP PWD Sub-Division at Khundian in district Kangra.It approved to regularize the daily waged workers of Nepali origin in relaxation of R&P Rules.It approved construction of PWD rest house at Bhalei in Salooni Tehsil of Chamba district and construction of additional accommodation of PWD rest house Namhol in Bilaspur district.The Cabinet gave its approval for declaration of Summer Festival Ghumarwin as a District level Fair.
The Cabinet approved upgradation of Veterinary dispensary Pali in Drang Sub-division of Mandi district .Approval was accorded to up-grade Veterinary Dispensary Majhwar to Veterinary Hospital in Mandi district and Veterinary Dispensary Goshani to Veterinary Hospital in Kullu district along-with requisite staff.The Cabinet approved to take over the services of teaching and non-teaching staff of erstwhile privately managed Jawalaji Degree College, Jawalamukhi and Deen Dayal Mahesh Degree College, Sugh-Bhatoli in district Kangra which now would be named as Government Degree College Sugh- Bhatoli.
Amendments and Rules
It was also decided to make amendments in Rule 69-B of Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1999.The Cabinet approved the Himachal Pradesh Miscellaneous Adventure Activities Rules, 2004, which would besides the existing HP Aero Sports and River Rafting Rules will include many Miscellaneous Adventure activities as river crossing, zorbing, hot air ballooning, skiing, trekking, rock climbing, bungee jumping, rolling balls/water balls, zipline etc. However the objections/suggestions with regard to rules would be invited from the general public before finalization.The Cabinet approved amendments in section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Tax on entry of goods into Local area Act, 2010.