Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi presided over a review meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HPSHIVA) to assess the progress of project implementation in Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts. The Minister said that HPSHIVA Project is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting high-value horticulture through improved irrigation infrastructure, scientific cultivation practices and enhanced value addition, thereby creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and improving farmers' incomes across the State.
The Minister reviewed the progress of 40 clusters in Bilaspur district covering approximately 372 hectares and 23 clusters in Sirmaur district covering around 211 hectares. Detailed discussions were held on the status of ongoing civil works, including lift irrigation systems, drip irrigation networks, solar fencing and field preparation activities, as well as implementation bottlenecks, quality of execution and completion timelines.
The Horticulture Minister directed all contractors to complete their assigned works within the stipulated timelines and made it clear that no further extensions would be granted. He said that delays in project execution would not be tolerated and that accountability would be fixed wherever necessary.
Jagat Singh Negi directed officers of the department to closely monitor project activities on a day-to-day basis and ensure continuous supervision of ongoing works. He said that to assess progress on the ground, the next review meeting has been scheduled for 18 June 2026 and all stakeholders have been directed to demonstrate substantial progress before the meeting.
The Minister also directed Subject Matter Specialists and Management Experts to take responsibility for plant health management and provide technical guidance to farmers on field operations, demonstrations and best management practices to ensure healthy crop establishment and improved productivity. Highlighting the importance of inter-departmental coordination, Sh. Negi directed the Jal Shakti Vibhag and HPSEB to ensure the timely availability of water and electricity at all project sites so that implementation activities are not affected.
Sh. Negi said that the Jal Shakti Vibhag was instructed to operate all completed Lift Irrigation Schemes for a minimum period of one month before handing them over, ensuring proper functionality, reliability and performance. He said construction Supervision and Monitoring Consultants were directed to intensify monitoring and maintain strict quality control at every stage of implementation.
He stressed that any compromise in quality would result in responsibility being fixed on the concerned agencies and supervising officials. He said that officers of the Horticulture department were also instructed to undertake regular field visits and update progress through the SmartCheck Monitoring Application developed under the HPSHIVA Project.
Reiterating the State Government's commitment to the successful implementation of HPSHIVA, the Minister directed all departments, contractors and consultants to work in close coordination to achieve project targets within the prescribed timelines while maintaining the highest standards of quality for the benefit of farming communities.
Senior officers of the Horticulture Department, HPSHIVA Project, Jal Shakti Vibhag and HPSEB, contractors and consultants associated with project implementation and monitoring were present in the meeting.