14th, January, 2022

 

 

Topic: Historic Building

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims

 

What is the news?

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited Bantony Castle Shimla and reviewed the progress in the renovation of the historic building which is being restored.
• The Himachal Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) had prepared a social impact assessment report of the main property before the decision on its acquisition was taken.

 

Which project does this involve?

• Under Asian Development Bank(ADB)  project worth Rs. 25 crore.

 

About Bantony Castle:

• Bantony Castle, 125 years ago, was the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. The main building is a two-storey building built in the simulated Tudor style, partly chalet and topped with a sloping roof with mini-towers.
• The building is said to have been designed by TEG Cooper and before its construction in 1880, the site had a cottage belonging to Cap A. Gordon which housed army officers. It had housed the office of the Himachal Police since 1957.
• It was after the owners won the legal battle that the police vacated the building.

 

About ADB:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while supporting its efforts to eliminate extreme poverty in the region. Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to a large share of the world’s poor: 263 million living on less than $1.90 a day and 1.1 billion on less than $3.20 a day.
• ADB assists its members, and partners, by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.
• ADB maximizes development impact by facilitating policy dialogues, providing advisory services and mobilizing financial resources through co-financing operations that leverage official sources, commercial and export credit institutions.

 

Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines

Membership: 68 countries

President: Masatsugu Asakawa.

Founded: 19 December 1966

(Source: HP Government and HP tribune)

 

 

Topic: HP Cabinet Decions

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What are the decisions?

 

Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy-2021:

 

• The meeting of State, Cabinet held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave its nod to Swaran Jayanti Energy     Policy-2021 of the State which envisages clean and green energy development through expeditious of full energy potential specially hydro and solar, add additional 10000 MW of green energy though hydro, solar and other green energy sources by 2030, expeditious development of green energy sources, a four pronged strategy by way of participation of State, Joint, Central and Private sectors.

 

Aim:

• It also aimed at developing adequate and efficient transmission network in the State by creating a transmission Master Plan to facilitate planning and timely execution of hydro and solar projects. It also lays stress on renewal energy sources viz. Solar, wind, biomass and other non-conventional energy sources.

 

Himachal Pradesh Swarnim Jayanti Sports Policy 2021:

 

• The Cabinet gave its approval to the Himachal Pradesh Swarnim Jayanti Sports Policy 2021 which lays emphasis on developing, maintaining and optimally utilizing high quality sports infrastructure, encourage public private participation in creating sports infrastructure, coordinate with educational institutions for promotion of sports and to encourage, train and support sportsperson’s for participation and excellence in national and international championships with high standards of ethics.

Aim:

• The Policy also aims at introducing scientific research in training for long term sports development and recognize and honor talent in sports and reward young women and men who have achieved excellence in sports.

 

Change in marks for recruitment:

• It also decided to dispense with the process of 15 marks evaluation and enhancement of weightage of written test from 85 to 100 marks for direct recruitment Class-III posts to ensure more objective selection in a transparent manner.

 

Tax:

• The Cabinet gave its ex post facto approval for 100 percent waiver/ exemption of Token Tax, Special Road Tax and Passenger Tax of various categories of vehicles to provide relief to the transporters keeping in view the affect due to corona pandemic.
• It decided to waive of remaining 50 percent Token Tax on Stage Carriage, Taxi, Maxi, Auto and Contract Carriage buses, Institutional Buses and 100 percent Token Tax on Contract Carriage Buses and Special Road Tax on Stage Carriage with effect from 1st August, 2020 to 30th June, 2021.
• It also decided to waive off 100 percent Token Tax on Stage Carriage, Contract Carriage and Institutional Buses and Special Road Tax of Stage Carriage with effect from 1st July, 2021 to 30th November, 2021.
• It also decided to waive off 100 passenger tax on contract carriage and institutional basis with effect from 1st April, 2020 to 30th November, 2021.

 

New Opening:

• It decided to open a new Circle of Public Works Department at Dharampur in Mandi district along with creation and filling up requisite posts.
• The Cabinet gave its approval to create a new Division of  Public Works Department at Shahpur in Kangra district and Sub Division at Darinin alongwith creation and filling up of requisite posts for smooth functioning of these offices.
• The Cabinet gave its approval for restructuring of State Taxes and Excise Department. Creation and filling up of posts would be carried out by the Department in a phased manner in consultation with the Finance Department and in sync with the restructuring proposal.
• It also gave its consent to open a new Section of Jal Shakti Department at Darwar in Mandi district under Sub Division Tihra alongwith creation and filling up of requisite posts.
• It also gave its approval to open a new Section of Jal Shakti Department at Kelodhar in Mandi district under Sub Division Kelodhar alongwith creation and filling up of requisite posts.

 

Jobs:

• The Cabinet gave its approval to fill up 108 posts of different categories in Revenue Department on contract basis.
• The Cabinet decided to fill up 42 posts of Silk Inspectors in Industries Department on contract basis.
• The Cabinet decided to fill up 13 posts of different categories in Printing and Stationery Department.It decided to fill up three posts of Statistical Assistant in Revenue Department on contract basis.

 

Agriculture:

• The Cabinet gave its nod to provide relief to flood affected farmers of Lahaul-Spiti district for current agriculture and horticulture losses caused due to extensive rains on 27th to 30th July last year.
• The farmers would be provided Rs.2000 per bigha for losses between 25 to 50 percent, Rs. 2500 per bigha for losses between 50 to 75 percent and Rs. 3000 per bigha for losses to agricultural and horticultural crops above 75 percent. Rs. 3000 per bigha would also be provided to farmers for losses to their lands caused due to landslides/flash floods/avalanches etc. and Rs. 1000 per bigha would be provided for desilting of agricultural and horticultural lands.

 

Renaming:

It gave its nod to rename the Chamarla village in Kullu district as Dharabag, Chamarkad in Hamirpur district as Dhaned-Iand Bandoor in Shimla district as Viktadi.

(Source: HP Government)

 

Person in news:

• PCCF-cum-HOFF called on Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur at Shimla today.

Who is the Himachal’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HOFF (PCCF Cum HOFF)?

• Mr. Ajay Shrivastava