29th,May,2023

Topic: Chief Minister participates in NITI Aayog meeting

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Indian polity and governance – Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: UNIT II: Functions and responsibilities of Union and States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up-to local level and challenges therein.

 

What is the news?

• Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended the 8th Governing Council meeting of NITI AAYOG at New Delhi today.
• The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Discussions were held on infrastructure and investments, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), minimizing compliances, women empowerment, health and nutrition, skill development, Gati Shakti for area development and social infrastructure, viksitbharat@2047.

What Chief Minister shared in the meeting?

• Chief Minister requested the Centre to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to recover Rs 9,242.60 crore deposited under New Pension Scheme (NPS) by the State Government. He advised against reducing the previous year’s NPS deposit of Rs 1,779 crore below the borrowing ceiling of the current financial year, 2023-24, and to review the 27 March 2023 decision.
• Chief Minister further requested that the Centre expedite Department of Economic Affairs plans and remove the three-year cap on external help for the state. He also demanded 100% central funding for the crucial Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh railway route and considering the land acquisition cost as State’s contribution.
• He also asked ropeway projects under the “Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna” and extra funding to finish medical college building in the State. He also urged that the Indian government’s financial aid for e-buses include CAPEX and OPEX models.
• The Chief Minister stated that the State Government wanted to make Himachal Pradesh the “Green Energy State” and that tourism development was being done under the Green Himachal concept to protect the environment. He added HRTC will replace most diesel buses with e-buses in coming years to reduce carbon footprints.
• He claimed Green Hydrogen promotion is being planned in detail. He stated that after final World Bank deliberations, the Rs. 2000 crore “Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Programme” will be launched. He added that creating
• 40,000 direct and 50,000 indirect jobs would be created, along with efforts to attract 20,000 crore in various industries during the current financial year.
• Chief Minister announced that Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojna has been begun in the state for impoverished and orphan children and State Government will take care of them as the “Children of the State.” For this, Rs 101 crore Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Kosh was established.
• He asked the Centre and NITI Aayog to help the current government make Himachal Pradesh the most developed and rich state in the country.

 

About NITI Aayog:

• NITI Aayog is India’s exclusive policymaking institution (think tank) that aims to boost the economic growth and development of the country and foster cooperative federalism.The NITI Aayog full form is “National Institution for Transforming India”.

Objectives:

• To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States.
• To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
• To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.
• To ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
• To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefiting adequately from economic progress.
• To design strategic and long-term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their efficacy. The lessons learned through monitoring and feedback will be used for making innovative improvements, including necessary mid-course corrections.
• To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded think tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
• To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.
• To offer a platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and inter­ departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
• To maintain a state-of-the-art resource centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders.
• To actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen the probability of success and scope of delivery.
• To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and initiatives.
• To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above.
• NITI Aayog is developing itself as a state-of-the-art resource centre with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable it to act with speed, promote research and innovation, provide strategic policy vision for the government, and deal with contingent issues. It is supported by an attached office, Development Monitoring and Evaluation Organisation (DMEO), a flagship initiative, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and an autonomous body, National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD).

 

NITI Aayog’s entire gamut of activities can be divided into four main heads:

1. Policy and Programme Framework
2. Cooperative Federalism
3. Monitoring and Evaluation
4. Think Tank, and Knowledge and Innovation Hub

• The different verticals, cells, attached and autonomous bodies of NITI provide the requisite coordination and support framework needed to carry out its mandate.

(Source: HP Government)

 

Topic: CM bats for handing over Shanan Project to the State with Union Power Minister

 

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Current events of Himachal Pradesh

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT II: Developments in energy sectors such as Hydro power, non-conventional sources of energy and nuclear energy including policies, programmes and research base in the country.

 

What is the news?

• Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu who called on Union Minister for Power R. K. Singh at New Delhi today detailed him that the 99 years lease period of Shanan Project was expiring in March 2024 as per the lease agreement and asked for issuing necessary directions to the Punjab Government for taking mandatory steps for handing over the project to the State before the expiry of the lease period.

Chief Minister shared:

• He also apprised the Union Minister about the facts regarding the share of the state in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and demanded for 12 percent water royalty for the state. He said that due to the construction of projects by BBMB, many townships were compelled to face rehabilitation and numbers of oustees were not yet compensated even after fifty years.
• He urged that state government may be allowed to impose free power royalty in all commissioned projects of BBMB. He said that this was the long pending demand of the state.
• He also raised the issue of raising the royalty of state in SJVNL, he said that free power royalty share being received from SJVNL projects which have completed debt period of 12 years, may be enhanced from existing free power royalty share ranging from 12 to 30 percent.
• Chief Minister also apprised the Minister about the initiatives of the state being taken for becoming Green Energy State and urged to provide incentives including tax benefits for green hydrogen production to boost production of green energy in the state.
• The Union Minister assured of all possible support to the state.

 

About Shanan Project:

• 110 MW Shanan Project is the most picturesque project in the beautiful surroundings of Himalayan ranges. It is situated in the Himachal Pradesh at an approximately longitude of 76 degree 51′ East and latitude of 32 degree 2′ North. It takes advantage of two small rivulets at an altitude of about 6000 ft., in Brot valley. The idea of harnessing a power potential of 4X12 MW (48 MW) initially was envisaged by Col. Battye, the then Chief Engineer of Govt. of Punjab in 1922.
• Shanan Project came in to being based on an agreement made on 3rd March, 1925 between Secretary of State for India in Council of the one part and Lieutenant His Highness Raja Joginder Sen Bahadur, Raja of Mandi of the of the part.
• During reorganization of States Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh which took place in 1966 as per provision contained in Punjab re-organisation Act, 1966. Under this act Shanan Power House situated at Jogindernagar (Mandi) in the State of Himachal Pradesh was allocated to Punjab State by The Government of India, Ministry of Irrigation & Power. The objection raised by Himachal pradesh in this regard stands clarified by The Government of India vide letter dated 2nd March, 1972 reaffirming the allotment of Shanan Power House in favour of Punjab State.
• Shanan Power House, Stage-I of 4X12 = 48 MW was uprated to 4X15 = 60 MW in 1982. The uprated machines were finally commissioned in December, 1982.

(Source: HP Government)

 

 

Topic: Centre on flora, fauna at Himalayan national park

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT II: Revenue generation with special reference to hydro potential, tourism, flora and fauna.
  

 

What is the news?

• At Sainj Ropa in the Sainj valley of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), an Interpretation Centre has been built.

What will it share?

• It shares about the plants and animals that live in the GHNP. It will be about flowers, plants that can heal, birds, and beautiful places.
• The Western tragopan, which is the state bird, the snow leopard, which is the state animal, the pink rhododendron, which is the state flower, and the deodar, which is the state tree, have all been shown and told about. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has all four state symbols.
• About 10% of the wild Western tragopan population in the world lives in the GHNP. At the centre, there are also cutouts of big animals that live in the park, such as brown bears, black bears, snow leopards, and musk deer.

 

From the DFO:

• The main reason for building the place is to tell tourists about how beautiful the area is. He also says, “The centre will be useful for people who come here for nature walks and awareness programmes, like school and college students.”

 

About Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP):

 

Park History:

• The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) was created to protect, sustain and propagate wildlife, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• It took 20 years, from inception to inauguration, for the park to be realised as part of the Indian protected area network.

 

Timeline:

 

1980-1983: International team of scientists, under the banner Himachal Wildlife Project, surveys Kullu district and recommends creation of GHNP in Banjaar area.

1984: Himachal government expresses intention to create GHNP.

1988: Settlement of rights of local communities in GNHP begins.

1994-99: World Bank funds Conservation of Biodiversity project, during which 16 village eco-development committees are founded to involve local communities in biodiversity conservation; Wildlife Institute of India conducts research project at GHNP.

1996: Biodiversity Conservation Society (BiodCS) registered to share responsibility for GHNP management.

1999: GHNP instated as India’s newest national park; compensation awarded to local communities previously identified as having traditional forest rights there.

2000: WSCG organisers form SAHARA (Society for Advancement of Hill and Rural Areas) to work with GHNP management.

2008: Research on western tragopan population in GHNP, in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India.

2010: Proposal to declare 710 sq km Parvati watershed as Khirganga National Park in the north of GHNP to strengthen the conservation efforts. Two Wildlife sanctuaries of Sainj and Tirthan proposed to be merged into GHNP for a higher protection status.

2011: Application to nominate GHNP as UNESCO World Heritage Site, submitted.

2012: IUCN evaluation team visits GHNP for critical analysis of the property.

2013: GHNP ‘s nomination considered and put in referral list; Management council constituted by involving all the heads of 13 local governing bodies.

2014: GHNP is awarded World Heritage Natural Site status in the proceedings of the 38th World Heritage Committee meeting at Doha, Qatar; Two Wildlife Sanctuaries – Sainj and Tirthan, of the property be retained as wildlife sanctuaries and not to be merged with the national park.

2015: GHNP logo registered by Govt of Himachal Pradesh; Confirmed sighting of rare and elusive “serow” made in GHNP; The official website of the park launched.

(Source: HP Tribune)

Topic: Cleanliness drive at Chamba village

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: UNIT III: Issues, concerns, policies, programmes, conventions, treaties and missions aimed at environment protection, and dealing with the problem of climate change.

 

What is the news?

• Today, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Apoorv Devgan started a drive to clean up Chhanni village. This was done to give the ongoing “Mission LIFE: Lifestyle for Environment” a much-needed boost.
• Women launch the ‘Mission LiFE — Lifestyle for Environment’campaign at Chhanni village of Chamba district on Sunday.
• Representatives from panchayati raj institutions (PRI), mahila mandal, yuvak mandal, self-help groups, and different departmental officials and employees came together and cleaned the whole area.

About ‘Mission LiFE — Lifestyle for Environment’:

• In this context, the concept of ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow on 1st November 2021, calling upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment. LiFE puts individual and collective duty on everyone to live a life that is in tune with Earth and does not harm it. Those who practice such a lifestyle are recognised as Pro Planet People under LiFE.
• Changing our lifestyle, however, is not easy. Our habits are deeply ingrained in our daily lives and are continually reinforced through several elements of our environment. Translating our intention to do good for the environment is not always easy to translate into action. However, it is not impossible. By taking one action at a time and making one change daily, we can change our lifestyle and inculcate long-term environment-friendly habits. Studies suggest that practising an action for a minimum of 21 days helps make it a habit.
• In that context, the LiFE 21-Day Challenge is launched to enable Indians to take one simple environment-friendly action per day for 21 days and eventually develop an environment-friendly lifestyle. It is a challenge to change one small thing in your life daily and become Pro Planet People.

(Source: The Tribune)