Himachal Pradesh Government on Monday decided to extend night curfew in four districts of the state till January 5, 2021 keeping in view COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here.
“The government has decided to continue with existing COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and night curfew in four districts namely Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu till January 5, 2021,” said an official spokesman.
It was on November 23 when the State Government had imposed night curfew in four districts and also, announced closing educational institutions till December 31.
The spokesman said the cabinet has also given approval to grant ex post facto permission to operationalize ‘make shift hospitals’ at Shimla, Nalagarh, Tanda and Nerchowk in public interest at a cost of Rs 1.37 crore, Rs 2.36 crore, Rs 3.44 crore and Rs 6.11 crore respectively, out of which 50 percent funds have been provided to CSIR or CBRI Roorkee in advance.
The cabinet also gave its consent to create a Pain and Palliative Care Cell under the Radiotherapy Department in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla for providing better health facilities to the people.
Govt amends order regarding Himachal Pradesh Land Preservation Act, 1978.
The cabinet has given its approval to amend order dated September 10, 2002 under Himachal Pradesh Land Preservation Act, 1978 for felling of trees from the private land under ten years ‘Pattan’ programme by empowering concerned Divisional Forest Officers to grant permission for felling of upto 200 trees in place of upto 50 trees in a year, concerned Chief Conservator of Forests or Chief Conservator of Forests upto 300 trees in place of upto 100 trees in a year, Principal Chief Conservator Forests upto 400 trees in place of upto 200 trees in a year and Himachal Government above 400 trees in place of above 200 trees in a year, the spokesman said.
In case of trees are not felled within a prescribed year, the competent authority may extend the period upto one year where the process of demarcation of land and marking of trees have been completed during the prescribed year of felling and the felling orders stand issued by the concerned DFO but felling of trees have not been done or has been done partially and where process of demarcation of land and marking of trees has been completed during the prescribed year of felling but felling orders has not been issued, the spokesman added.