The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held here today approved the revised Transport Policy, 2014 in which special thrust will be given to accelerate the growth of transport sector and implementation of mandatory provisions of various central and state laws and also to re-define the role to be played by the transport department.
The policy aims to provide connectivity to the commuters of the state beside encouraging modern state of goods transport vehicles for handling the farm and non-farm produce efficiently. It will help in reducing the environmental externalities of transport in the state by developing suitable tax and non-tax incentives besides road safety and to incorporate the road safety in education curriculum at appropriate levels so as to make mobility safe and improve the public passenger transport.
Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh presided over the meeting.
It was decided to implement Market Intervention Scheme for procurement of citrus fruits like kinnu, malta, orange etc. during 2014-15. The procurement price for 500 metric tonne of kinnu, malta and orange and 100 metric tonne of galgal will be Rs. 6.50 (B grade) and Rs. 6 (C grade) and Rs. 5 per kilogram for galgals respectively. Besides, handling charges of Rs. 2.65 per kilogram will be given for kinnu, malta and orange and rupee one for galgal. In all, 54 procurement centers would be opened in the State under the scheme. The scheme would be effective from 20 November, 2014 to 14 February, 2015.
The Cabinet decided to implement a mega Tele-medicine pilot project at district hospital Keylong and Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti district for services of medical specialists in tribal areas of the State.
The Cabinet approved for use of the Red Light with flasher by Lokayukta and Advocate General.
It decided to allow use of Amber Lights with flasher by all Member of Parliament, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and all Members of HP legislative assembly, Mayor of Shimla, all IAS and IPS officers of super-time scale, all District and Session Judges of the State, and all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police in the district. .
The Cabinet decided that Blue light without flasher could be used by officers of the transport department having challaning powers and all excise and taxation officers in the district.
It gave approval for allotting three hydroelectric projects to Sai Engineering Foundation on BOOT basis which includes Lower Sumez (5 MW) Tauhuk (4.50MW) and Kareri (5MW) with a condition that the projects would be completed in four years from date of signing of implementation agreement. It was also decided that the Sai Engineering Foundation will provide 6.75 percent free power royalty, which would be part of income of HIMURJA. Keeping in view the importance of revenue to the State Government from sale of power, it was decided to approve extension of existing arrangements with Power Tradidng Corporation and Tata Power Trading for one more year.
Decision was taken to open new Ayurvedic Health Centers at village Uttrapur under gram panchyat Bijapur in Kangra district and at village Pudhan under gram panchayat Sanoh in Salooni Tehsil of district Chamba with adequate posts/staff . The decision comes up in fulfillment of announcement made by Chief Minister. The Cabinet also gave approval for creating four posts of various categories viz one post of Medical Superintendent, two of Senior Ayurveda Chikitsak and one post of Ward Sister on regular basis for 50 bedded district hospital at Hamirpur in Ayurveda department and filling thereof by promotion as per existing R&P Rules.
It also granted approval for opening Sub-Divisional Police Officer’s office at Haroli in district Una along with seven posts. The Cabinet also gave approval for opening of Fire Post at Larji in Banjar of Kullu district.
The Cabinet decided to grant State level status to the Balag Ekadashi Mela of Theog in Shimla district as per the announcement of the Chief Minister.
The Cabinet decided to constitute Ner Chowk as Nagar Panchayat in Mandi district. It also gave approval to constitute Baijnath and Paparola as Nagar Panchayats in Kangra district.
It also gave approval for amending and modifying Rule 45, 50 and 50 (4) of H.P VAT Rules, 2005 wherein it has been proposed to levy one and quarter percent lump sum tax of the annual turnover in respect of the dealer having annual turnover above Rs. 8 lakh to Rs.25 lakh with effect from 1 April, 2015.
Approval was given for filling up of eight posts of Block Development Officers through direct recruitment.
It was decided to frame Himachal Pradesh Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Social Impact Assessment and Consent) Rules, 2014 for carrying out the social impact assessment of the affected areas.
The Cabinet decided to shift the post of Superintending Engineer (P&I-II) Shimla to the office of Engineer-in-Chief (Project) Fatehpur in district Kangra along-with requisite staff to supervise and carry out all the design works related to Shah Nahar, Fina Singh and Sidhata projects in addition to Swan Channelization, Chhonch khud and other similar works.
The Cabinet approved the grant of higher pay structure plus grade pay to the Executive Officers and Secretaries of Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats prospectively.
It also accorded approval to grant pay scale to the Junior Accountants of the Panchayat Samitis under Panchayati Raj Department after three years of regular services prospectively.
The Cabinet also decided to formulate new recruitment and promotion rules for Sanskrit Lecturers in Ayurveda department.
It decided to create 50 posts of Junior Coaches in the department of Youth Services and Sports for providing training to the youth in different disciplines on contract basis. Besides, it gave approval for filling up of one post of Divisional Fire Officer in Fire Service Department by direct recruitment on contract basis.
Approval was accorded to fill 220 posts of Forest Guards in Forest department on contract basis. It also gave nod to fill 16 posts of Sub-Inspectors exclusively for women in State Police Department and filling up of four posts of Inspector Grade-I in Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department through direct recruitment on contract basis. It also accorded sanction for filling up of 40 posts of clerk-cum-data entry operators on outsource basis from NIELIT until regular/contract staff is appointed in the department. It also approved filling up two posts of Assistant Research Officers in Planning department.
The Cabinet decided to strengthen the Geological wing of the Industries Department by creating and filling up two posts of Mining Officers on contract basis by direct recruitment, creating 16 posts of Assistant Mining Inspectors (Non-Gazzetted) by filling up six posts by direct recruitment on contract basis and ten posts by promotion. Besides, creating 25 posts of Mining Guards (Class-IV) wherein 15 posts would be filled on contract basis through direct recruitment and 10 posts by transfer from the cadre of Peons/Chowkidars as per R&P Rules. It also decided for creating and filling up one post of Law Officer (Class-II, Gazetted) in order to exercise effective control and vigil on illegal mining activities and regulation of mines and minerals.
It accorded sanction to create supernumerary posts of Assistant Public Relations officer and District Public Relations Officer/Information Officer in the Information & Public Relations Department. It also decided to revise the pay scales of Actors and Artistes of the Information & Public Relations department.
The Cabinet decided to fill up one post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in H.P Subordinate Judiciary.
It gave approval for filling five posts of Statistical Assistants and four posts of investigators in department of Economics and Statistics on contract basis through outsourcing.
It also decided to place before the State Legislative Assembly the 42nd Annual Report of H.P. Public Service Commission from 1st April, 2012 to 31 March, 2013.
It decided to repeal the existing Himachal Pradesh Technical University Act, 2010 and to bring a new legislation ‘Himachal Pradesh Technical University Bill’ in the ensuing session of H.P Legislative assembly. The decision has been taken in consonance with other national reputed universities Acts.
The Cabinet gave its nod to withdraw the Himachal Pradesh Special Courts (Attachment and Confiscation of Property) Bill, 2011 and to resubmit revised Bill to Government of India for assent of the President.
The decision was taken to introduce the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility Bill, 2014 in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.
It approved for bringing the matter regarding amending sections 21 (i) (ii) (iii) (v) & 28 (i) of Himachal Pradesh University Ordinance, 1970 as a Bill in the assembly.
The decision was taken to introduce the Himachal Pradesh Court Fees (Amendment) Bill, 2014 before the legislative assembly.