A State Cabinet meeting was held here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which decided to launch 'Mukhya Mantri Van Vistaar Yojna'. The scheme aims to include barren areas of hills or mountains across the State with the objective of expanding green cover, preventing soil erosion and excessive runoff on degraded and refractory hills slopes.
To ensure the effective implementation of this Yojana, a Task Force will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Head of Forest Force (HoFF). Further, it was decided that the maintenance of selected areas will be done for seven years and the work of plantation and maintenance will be outsourced, preferably involving local inhabitants.
The Cabinet decided to create and fill-up additional 136 posts of nursing and para-medical staff in order to make Trauma Centre and Emergency Medicine Department, IGMC, Shimla functional to facilitate the patients. It would ensure that all the related six departments, i.e. Neurosurgery, Radiology, Plastic Surgery, Anaesthesia, Orthopaedics and General Surgery will function in three shifts round the clock.
The Cabinet decided to fill up 87 posts of different categories in various Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in the State. The Cabinet also decided to set up Project Management Unit in Revenue Department to deal effectively with natural calamities along with creation and filling up of 14 posts of different categories.
It was also decided to create posts of Assistant District Attorneys for newly established Civil Courts at Dharampur and Padhar in Mandi district and for newly established Additional District and Session Courts at Nurpur, Dehra, Palampur, Paonta Sahib and Rohru and seven posts of Deputy District Attorneys for POCSO Courts and Special CBI Court.
Nod was given to create and fill up seven posts of various categories in Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission. The Cabinet decided to enhance the honorarium of Special Police Officers posted in border areas of the State by Rs. 500 per month.
It also gave its approval to draft Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporations, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat maintenance of Parivar Register Rules, 2023, for maintaining proper record of families residing in urban areas. A presentation was given on the Himachal Pradesh Lease Rules, 2013 as amended in 2016 and 2017.
It was decided to examine the issue of granting lease to Hydro Electric Projects from holistic perspective and submit recommendations on the lease amount to be charged. The Cabinet gave its approval to rationalize the charges of services being provided by the Lok Mitra Kendras in the State.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to Himachal Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2023 on the analogy of CGST Act in order to implement recommendations made by the GST Council. It also decided to implement H.P. Nautor Rules, 1968 for a period of two years subject to conditions.
The area should not fall in National Park/ Sanctuary/Conservation Reserve/ Community Reserve/ Reserve Forest/Demarcated Projected Forest. The number of trees standing over the land proposed to be allowed as Nautor should not exceed two.
It will be provided for domestic purpose only and the person shall not be involved in any kind of forest offences.