Himachal Government would provide all possible help to the industrialists for smooth running of their units besides ensuring uninterrupted supply of raw material and finished products to the markets, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Wednesday.

Interacting with industrialists of steel industries of Kala Amb area in Sirmaur district through video conferencing from Shimla, the Chief Minister said the State Government was providing various concessions to industrial, commercial units including tourism sector, agriculture and other electricity consumers in the State due to outbreak of Covid-19 in the country.

He said that the payment of demand charges in respect of industrial, commercial and agriculture consumers for electricity consumption of April, 2020 would be billed in May, 2020 and for the consumption of May, 2020 to be billed in June, 2020 has been deferred till 30th June, 2020 and these charges would be recovered in three equal instalments during the months of July, August and September, 2020.

Thakur said a rebate of one percent subject to maximum of Rs 10,000 will be available for industrial, commercial and agriculture consumers who will pay the bills on or before 31st May, 2020 for the consumption of April, 2020 will be billed in May, 2020 and payment of bill on or before due date for consumption of May, 2020 will be billed in June, 2020.

The Chief Minister urged the industrialists to effectively maintain social distancing in their factories. He also assured the industrialists that Government would consider their other demands sympathetically.

Representatives of Steel Industry Hem Raj Garg, Sanjay Jain and Pawan Saini raised various demands of industry during the video conferencing.

Additional Chief Secretary Industries Manoj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Health R.D. Dhiman and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

CM THANKS PEOPLE OF SERAJ CONSTITUENCY

Addressing workers of Seraj Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district through video conferencing from Shimla, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur thanked the people of the area for contributing about Rs 25 lakh towards PM CARES and HP SDMA Covid-19 State Disaster Response Fund. He said that this amount would help the State Government in providing PPE kits and other safety equipments to the corona warriors.

The Chief Minister urged the people to download Arogya Setu App as this would go a long way in preventing spread of Covid-19 virus, adding that this App was an important weapon to fight coronavirus, as with the help of GPS and Bluetooth sensor it sends out notification whenever one comes in contact with infected person.

He said Government was ensuring adequate arrangements for smooth transportation of agriculture produces to the markets. The CM said that the party workers should also motivate the people to avoid any kind of social and religious gatherings, as this could be risky in catching the coronavirus. He said the Government has allowed entering the people of the State stranded in other States, pointing out that all of them were being medically examined before entering the state but it must be ensured that they remain in home quarantine for atleast next 14 days.

CENTRAL GOVT PROVIDES Rs 1899 CRORE AS CENTRAL TAXES SHARE TO HIMACHAL

The Central Government has provided Rs 1899 crore to the State Government in April 2020, including revenue deficit reimbursement, GST deficit reimbursement, Himachal's share in central taxes, MGNREGA amount, NHM programme, disaster relief amount and EAP, a Government spokesman said on Wednesday.

He said in view of the epidemic of Covid-19, the Centre has also increased the limit of Ways and Means of the States by 60 percent. This would help Himachal Pradesh to fight the coronavirus epidemic effectively, he added.

The spokesman said that news circulated in a section of media that the Central Government has deducted the share of Himachal taxes was misleading and not factual. "The Central Government provides share of taxes to all the States according to the constitutional system. Neither part of any State can be deducted nor can any State could be given more than its share of central taxes", the spokesman said in a statement.

The State Government has thanked the Central Government for providing timely amount of central taxes in April, 2020 to Himachal Pradesh as per its share, the spokesman added.