Himachal Pradesh Cabinet granted approval to execute an Agreement with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) India Limited to extend the validity by one year, from October 31st, 2011 to October 31, 2012, for sale of Government of Himachal Pradesh’s entitlement of free and equity share of power in all existing and upcoming hydro projects and authorized Principal Secretary (Power) to execute the Agreement on behalf of the Government of Himachal Pradesh with Power Trading Corporation India Limited. PTC shall ensure 100 percent scheduling of power with take or pay liability, obtain most competitive price at 100 percent scheduling, ensure optimal scheduling of power to minimize impact of Unscheduled Interchange (UI); undertake total accounting of Government of Himachal Pradesh power and for this purpose reconciliation of energy accounts with HPSEB Limited/HPSIDC shall periodically carried out to identify the quantum and rate of power governed under UI. Subsequently, reconciliation of payments shall also have to be carried out with the Directorate of Energy on quarterly basis. PTC shall take upon itself the payment obligation of the State Government towards SJVNL for equity power as well as payment of long term and short term open access charges and the UI claims besides ensuring fortnightly payment to the State Government irrespective of receipt/non-receipt of payment from the buyer utilities/customers, including HPSEB Limited.
Chief Minister presided over the Meeting. Committee granted approval to notify revised minimum wages to the labourers working in private sector under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 from Rs. 110 to Rs. 120 and bring them at par with the labourers working in Government Sector. It approved enhancement in the Honorarium (Samman Rashi) of the Freedom Fighters in the State from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month.
It has been decided to formulate a Scheme to honour the officers and officials of different departments engaged in construction activities of various projects for achieving the completion target of the projects ahead of their scheduled time and for saving on estimated cost as well so that good workers are encouraged and time and money also saved. It has been decided to decentralize the power conferred by section 8-A of the Himachal Pradesh Village Common Lands Vesting and Utilization
Act, 1974 and authorize all the District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners to change pool of land vested in the State Government under the provisions of the said Act, strictly in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-A read with section 8 of the Act, ibid, in their respective jurisdiction so as to minimize the time taken in transfer of such lands.
Cabinet approved filling up of 16 vacant posts of Patwari candidates out of the trained candidates in Revenue Department on contract basis. Three Patwaris of district Kinnaur will be given option to opt for other district till the vacancies become available in Kinnaur. It has been decided to regularize the temporary Weighing Barrier at Barotiwala in district Solan and sanction one post of Assistant Regional Transport Officer, one post of Senior Assistant, two posts Clerks and 3 daily wage Home Guards to man the same.
It accorded approval to the rates of High security Registration Plates for the implementation of Rule 50 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Motor Vehicles (New High Security Registration Plates) Order, 2001. The new High Security Registration Plates will be tamperproof and non-removable and can only be affixed by the approved manufacturer in the presence of Registering Authority. The said Scheme will be applicable to the new vehicles in the coming month and two years of grace period is allowed to old vehicles which are already registered.
It granted approval to the Amendment in the Section 27 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 as applicable to the State of Himachal Pradesh and to issue ordinance thereof so that the owner of reputed brand could bottle their produce within the State of Himachal Pradesh. This will generate additional employment besides enhancing the revenue of the State.
It has been decided to declare the State Level Renuka Jee Fair as that of International Level. Cabinet approved re-designation of the post of the Chief Architect in HP PWD as Architect-in-Chief. It granted approval to the Recruitment and Promotion Rules of Section Officer (Class-I Gazetted), Accounts Officer (Class-I Gazetted) in Environment, Science and Technology Department; Principal Nursing Officer (Class-I Gazetted) in the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
