HP Current Affairs - UPSC Preparation Made Easy

5th, August, 2022

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said the state has emerged as the first state in the country in effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission due to the concerted efforts of the government.
Addressing a public meeting at Jaisinghpur in Kangra district, he said the Jal Jeevan Mission was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that every household gets tapped drinking water.

Every rural household has drinking water supply inadequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in living standards of rural communities.

States/ UTs in planning of participatory rural water supply strategy for ensuring potable drinking water security on long-term basis to every rural household and public institution, viz. GP building, School, Anganwadi centre, Health centre, wellness centres, etc.
States/ UTs for creation of water supply infrastructure so that every rural household has Functional Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024 and water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality is made available on regular basis.
States/ UTs to plan for their drinking water security GPs/ rural communities to plan, implement, manage, own, operate and maintain their own in-village water supply systems.
States/ UTs to develop robust institutions having a focus on service delivery and financial sustainability of the sector by promoting utility approach
Capacity building of the stakeholders and create awareness in the community on the significance of water improvement in quality of life
In making provision and mobilization of financial assistance to States/ UTs for implementation of the mission.

To provide FHTC to every rural household.
To prioritize provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages, in drought prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centers, GP buildings, Health centers, wellness centers and community buildings
To monitor the functionality of tap connections.
To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan).
To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
To empower and develop human resource in the sector, such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term.
To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone’s business.

Efforts should be made to source funds from different sources/ programs and convergence is the key.
Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household.
Development of reliable drinking water sources and/or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system
Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household.
Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue.
Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level of 55 lpcd; Greywater management
Support activities, i.e. IEC, HRD, training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge center, capacity building of communities, etc.
Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues emerging due to natural disasters/ calamities which affect the goal of FHTC to every household by 2024, as per guidelines of Ministry of Finance on Flexi Funds.

(Source: jaljeevanmission(.)gov)

Chamba police has been ranked number one in the state for taking swift action in FIRs and road accidents.

It is ranked online by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In this, chamba police did a better job and registered its report online along with providing timely police assistance to the people.
As a result, chamba police got the first rank. Last year, chamba police was at number 13.

In Himachal Pradesh, Chamba police has stood first in the rankings. While Shimla stood second, Solan third, Baddi fourth, Hamirpur fifth, Lahaul-Spiti sixth, Una seventh, Mandi eighth, Sirmour ninth, Bilaspur tenth, Kinnaur 11th, Kullu 12th and Kangra police 13th.

(Source: Amar Ujala)

The fragrance of HRMN-99 variety of apple prepared in Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh in five states of North East and Bihar will spread in Maharashtra.
The government there is taking steps in this direction.
In this context, Hariman Sharma, a progressive horticulturist who belongs to Paniala under Ghumarwin of Bilaspur district, recently held talks with Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence on Motilal Nehru Marg in which apple cultivation would be interred in Maharashtra.
The decision has been taken.
During this it was also decided that soon a workshop (Kisan Sammelan) would be organized in Maharashtra (Poona), in which Hariman Sharma would also be specially invited. It may be recalled that in the Mann Ki Baat program last year, the Prime Minister had discussed the successful commercialization of HRMN 99 apples in Manipur that the hard work of the farmer of Himachal Pradesh is being cultivated successfully in Manipur as well.
After the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat program, Union Minister Anurag Thakur immediately posted on Facebook from his residence, in which the detailed description of HRMN 99 apples has been made.

Shri Hariman Sharma, a progressive farmer, hailing from Paniala village of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, who developed this innovative apple variety – HRMN 99 has become a source of inspiration not only for thousands of farmers in the region but also for horticulturists of Bilaspur and other lower hill districts in the State –areas which earlier could never dream of growing apples.

(Source: Divya Himachal)