HP Current Affairs - UPSC Preparation Made Easy

18th, July, 2022

Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to integrate commercial vehicles registered after January 1, 2019, into the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).

The Transport Department has made installation of vehicle location tracking devices and panic button mandatory for registration of commercial vehicles after instructions were issued by the Centre in 2017 in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case.
Till date, the devices have been installed in 9,423 commercial vehicles. The panic alarm is connected with the ERSS being monitored at the police headquarters. The devices are also monitored at the transport office.
When the panic button is pressed, a signal is received at 112 through satellite following which the person in distress is contacted and cops are also alerted.

Adding the system would also be useful to the drivers in case of health hazard or disaster.

(Source: The Tribune)

Himachal government sets up highest gym at Kaza in Spiti valley.
Part of an initiative to improve facilities for residents, particularly youngsters, in remote Lahaul-Spiti district.

The Himachal Pradesh government has set up a gym at Kaza, the headquarters of the scenic Spiti valley, at an altitude of 12,000 feet, claiming it to be the highest gym in the world.

Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang Pass on the Manali-Leh highway is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet. It is the longest highway single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet with a length of 9.02km.
The world’s highest post office, housed in a letterbox-shaped building, was recently renovated at Hikkim village in Spiti valley at a height of 14,567 feet.
Situated at 15,500 feet, Komic in Spiti is the highest village in the world to be connected with a motorable road.

(Source:hindustantimes)

In Himachal Pradesh, the work of transporting goods of five to ten kilograms of goods over 10 kilometres by drones will begin soon.
The Himachal Pradesh, Electronic Corporation has shortlisted six companies to provide drone facilities in the state.
Medicines and ration will also be supplied through drones in the areas where connectivity is cut off during rain-snowfall.
Drones flying at an altitude of 4,000 meters above the ground will travel up to 40 minutes at a time.

Many companies will do the work of payload delivery. Under this, medicines can be sprayed in the fields and gardens with the help of drones.
Drones will also work for traffic management.
The Land and Revenue Department will also use drones in preparing records. During natural calamities, medicines and rations can also be transported to remote areas with the help of drones.
Police, Agriculture, Forest, Health, Land and Revenue Departments and district administrations are ready to take the help of drones for their operations.
The National Health Mission has decided to take the help of drones to deliver medicines and samples of patients to CHCs and PHCs.

Himachal Pradesh is the first state to notify a drone policy across the country.

(Source: Amar Ujala)