15th, Feburary, 2022

 

 

Topic: Tourism

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims

 

What is the news?

• Kasauli is the State’s first clean street hub for tourism.

 

Why important?

• Tourism sector Kasauli’s market has been made the first clean street food hub. The first license was issued for any market in the state by the FSSAI.
• At the Kasauli heritage market, 25 grocery stores were selected for the campaign and audited.

 

How does this work?

• The license has been issued to Kasauli. Once licensed, food retailers will function according to the rules.
• Apart from this, the work from manufacturing to selling of food items will be done according to the instructions issued. Food vendors will benefit from the scheme, while people will get clean and healthy food items.

(Source: Amarujala)

 

 

Topic: Agriculture

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• Bumper wheat crop prospects have brightened up in Himachal as the state received 57 per cent excess rain during the current winter session, while 93 per cent excess rain was recorded in January alone.

 

How has that helped?

• Rainfall in low-lying areas, particularly in rainy areas, was beneficial to wheat as it provided sufficient moisture during planting and crop maturation.
• Given that about 75 percent of cropland is rainy, periodic and excess rains are beneficial to crops. A bumper crop is expected this year,” said Director, Agriculture, BR Takhi.

Challenges encountered last year:

• Because of the small amount of rain in December, we were concerned because there was no growth. However, the January rain increased the plant’s size to one foot,” said Gian Singh, a farmer from the village of Sujana on the outskirts of Shimla.

 

Important:

• Rain in low areas, especially rainy areas, has been beneficial to wheat as it has provided sufficient moisture during planting and maturing, he said.
• It helps control the spread of yellow rust and facilitates the application of urea.
• Another spell of rain during the milky stage in March would ensure that the production target of 672 thousand metric tonnes is surpassed.

 

Stats:

• The area under cultivation and production was 3.19 lakh hectares and 628 thousand metric tons in 2019-20, which slightly increased to 3.40 lakh hectares. A production target of 672 thousand metric tonnes with an average yield of 20 quintals per hectare has been set for 2021-22.
• Himachal received 212.6 mm of rain against normal rainfall of 135.7 mm, an excess of 57 per cent, from January 1 to February 14. Sirmaur received 329 per cent excess rain, followed by Solan (271 per cent), Una (253 per cent), Bilaspur (204 per cent), Hamirpur (124 per cent), Kangra (118 per cent), Mandi (104 per cent), Kullu (88 per cent), Shimla (62 per cent) and Chamba (52 per cent).

(Source: HP Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Excise Policy

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Mains

 

What is the news?

• A meeting for the management of Excise Policy 2022-23 was organized by the State Taxes and Excise Department here today. Principal Secretary State Taxes and Excise Subhasish Panda presided over the meeting.

 

What’s emphasized?

• Principal Secretary emphasized increasing the revenue collection of the state and operation of trade as per the policy of the department. He said that strict action would be taken against licensees involved in illegal activities.
• Excise licensees, representatives of various distilleries and bottling plants from various districts also gave their suggestion on the occasion. The suggestions would be presented to the government for further action.
• The licensees were also informed about the implementation of track and trace system for the operation of the liquor trade by the Department.

(Source: HP Government)