In order to ensure the services of specialists in various medical institutions in the State, Himachal Cabinet on Thursday decided to make amendment in the policy of post graduation degree/diploma courses in Government-run medical and dental colleges of the State.
The mandatory service period in Pangi, Bharmour, Tissa, in all medical blocks of lahaul & Spiti, in medical blocks of Chirgaon, Nerwa and Tikker and in Chohar Valley of Padhar Block has been reduced to one year from the existing two. The Government also proposed to insert a provision that medical officers who are proceeding to pursue PG Degree/Diploma under 1, 2, 3 and four years mandatory services condition will have to serve for one more year in the district hospital/civil hospital from where they proceed for doing PG Degree/Diploma courses after completion of PG Degree and Diploma courses.
Besides, the mandatory service period in other medical blocks of the State, (excluding the above) the service period has been reduced to three years. Within the limits of Shimla MC & Solan Municipal Council and within Baddi-Barotiwala, Nalagrah notified areas, the service period has been reduced to four years from the existing five.
The Cabinet also gave nod to grant four-tier pay scale to medical officers by counting ad-hoc/RKS services.
In order to provide self employment opportunities to the youth of the State and to open new areas for the tourists, the Cabinet decided to revive Eco-tourism Policy, 2015 subject to the condition that the Forest Department will get the selection of sites, terms of agreement etc and get it vetted from the tourism department.
As per estimates, roughly 160 lakh tourists visit the State every year and the objective of eco-tourism policy is to implement community based eco-tourism concept with the involvement of local communities, voluntary organisations, staff of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and other departments as well.
The Cabinet also decided to open special land acquisition units at Shimla, Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur and Shahpur in Kangra district for National Highways.
The State Government approved to revive the policy for passing of timber from the stock of private parties who purchase timber from HP State Forest Development Corporation through open auction.
Unanimous decision was also taken to enter into agreement with Cube Software Pvt ltd Noida for providing online booking facility to hotels in the State and toll free tourist help-line/call centre. It was decided to enter Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rba Horticulture (India) ltd for conducting techno-economic feasibility studies on cultivation of Avacado, Golden Kiwi and White Strawberry in Himachal Pradesh and for diversification, modernisation and development of the Horticulture Sector in some districts for increasing the production and income of farmers in these areas.
The Government will also enter into an agreement with Solar Energy Corporation of India and HP State Electricity Board ltd to form a Joint Venture Company (JVC) under the name and style “Himachal Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Pvt limited” for construction of 2.5 MW Hybrid (Solar & Wind) Power Plant with large battery storage at Kaza in lahaul and Spiti district and other Renewal Power Projects.
The Cabinet decided to increase the timeline of Small Hydel Electric Projects upto 5 MW so as to give them extra time for completion of projects especially in lahaul & Spiti and Pangi valley of Chamba district.
It also decided to amend Appendix III under rule 10(1) of HP Administrative Service Rule, 1973 regarding change in pattern & syllabus of the Main Examination of HAS etc and other competitive examinations on the analogy of main examination of Indian Administrative Services.
Besides, an approval was given to enhance the annual income limit of Rs35,000 from existing Rs15,000 for grant of pension to war widows and veterans of world war II .
It also approved the recommendations of the Tree Authority Committee to fell, remove or lop dangerous trees in the limits of Shimla Municipal Area.