The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday approved the World Bank-funded Rs1,000 crore project to strengthen the State’s horticulture sector that generates more than Rs3,200 crore annually.Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who presided over a Cabinet meeting, said the project would help in ensuring better post-harvest management besides strengthening the supply chain and establishing alternative market management.
Under the project, the Government approved the creation of a special purpose vehicle to manage the progeny-cum-demonstration orchards and the farms owned or under the possession of horticulture and other departments.“Apple constitutes about 89 per cent of the total fruit production. During 2014-15 (up to December 2014), 5,81,000 tonnes of apples were produced against 7,39,000 tonnes in 2013-14,” said the State’s economic survey of 2014-15.
It was 4,12,000 tonnes of apples in 2012-13 against 2,75,000 tonnes in 2011-12. In 2010-11, it was a record production of 8,92,000 tonnes.The report said the area under apple crop has increased to 10,7,686 hectares from 3,025 hectares in 1960-61.Himachal Pradesh’s economy is highly dependent on hydroelectric power, horticulture and tourism.
Himachal partially waives tax on Kings XI Punjab
The Cabinet also decided to partially waive entertainment tax imposed on Kings XI Punjab for the IPl matches played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s (HPCA) picturesque stadium in Dharamsala. The Cabinet decided to waive 90 per cent entertainment tax from Kings XI Punjab for the three Indian Premier league (IPl) matches played in May 2011.The HPCA is headed by Anurag Thakur, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and son of former Chief Minister
Prem Kumar Dhumal.Official sources said, now, the financial implication on Kings XI Punjab after reducing the entertainment tax is around Rs20 lakh.Before 2011, there was no entertainment tax in the State on the cricket matches.The present Congress Government is currently at loggerheads with the HPCA over providing security free of cost at the IPl matches.Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has said the HPCA would have to foot the security bill. The HPCA, he has said, is a commercial organisation, so it would be charged accordingly.
Himachal allocates hydro plant to Reliance Energy
The Cabinet reallocated a multi-million dollar hydropower project, that was under litigation, to Reliance Energy ltd..The cabinet agreed to allot 960 MW Jhangi-Thopan-Powari Hydel Project in Kinnaur district to Reliance Energy ltd. A spokesperson said that if Reliance Energy does not accept the offer, the project may be re-advertised for fresh bidding.
The Thopan-Powari-Jangi hydropower project, one of the most viable ones, requires an investment of over Rs7,000 crore and aims to generate 4,000 million units per year. It requires at least nine years for the project to go on stream, say Government officials.The project was earlier allotted to Netherlands-based Brakel Corp in 2008. It later included Adani Power as a consortium partner in the project.
But the Himachal Pradesh High Court annulled it on October 7, 2009, on a plea by Reliance Infrastructure, one of the bidders. Brakel moved the Supreme Court but withdrew to pursue remedies suggested by the apex court in its order on April 1 last year.
Reliance Infra’s petition challenging the state’s decision not to allot the project to it is pending in the apex court. The high court wanted the State Government to take a “fresh decision as to whether it wants to re-advertise the project or wants to act on the basis of the old tender.”