Himachal government decided to reduce VAT on Diesel from 14 percent to 9.70 percent and zero VAT on kerosene. Government decision will definitely provide relief to the consumers from the recent price hike made by the Centre on Petroleum products.
Government announces it in its Cabinet meeting that was presided by the Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal. It its other decision State Government has also implement Marketing Intervention Scheme for Mango fruits so that the growers may get remunerative price of their produce in various terminal markets and to ensure that the exploitation by middlemen in the trade is checked. The State Government has decided to procure ‘seedling’ and ‘grafted’ varieties of mango fruit @ Rs. 4.60 and Rs. 5.25 per kg. respectively during the year 2011. This scheme will be implemented in the State with effect from 1.7.2011 to 15.8.2011 and HPMC, HIMFED and HP Agro Industries Corporation would be designated procurement agencies. 34 mango fruit procurement collection centres would be opened which, if need be, will be increased as per the demand.
Cabinet approved Policy Guidelines to provide compensation to the farmers for damage to their crops during construction activities by Hydro-Electric Projects in the State as relief and rehabilitation measure.
Cabinet decided to incorporate one female Member in the State Review Board constituted to consider cases relating to Pre-Mature Release and Mercy Petitions of the prisoners as also consider the cases relating to convicts undergoing life and short term imprisonment. It approved four cases for pre-mature release and two cases of mercy petition to forward the same to HE the Governor for approval.
In fulfillment of the announcements made by the Chief Minister, Cabinet granted approval to opening of 7 Ayurvedic Health Centres in the State. The new Centres will be opened at village Viyunt Shardaghat in district Shimla; village Samtehan, GP Tarsooh (Gwalthai) in district Bilaspur; village Khaggal, GP Neri in district Hamirpur; village Dugilag, tehsil Manali in district Kullu; village Tanbol, in district Bilaspur; village Arki in district Solan and village Lounga, GP Thanadhar in district Shimla. Permission was granted to make all of them functional by creating and filling up the four posts of Ayurvedic Medical Officers on contract basis.
Cabinet agreed in principle to execute Inter-State Memorandum of Understanding and approved the draft for setting up a ropeway between Anandpur Sahib (Punjab) to Naina Devi.
Cabinet approved Amendment in the Recruitment and Promotion rules of Himachal Pradesh Forest Services (HPFS) (Assistant Conservator). It also approved fresh Recruitment and Promotion Rules for the post of Reader-cum-Ahalmad (Gazetted ) Class-I; System Analyst (Gazetted) Class-I; Section Officer (Gazetted) Class-I and Private Secretary (Gazetted) Class-I, in the Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission.
