Himachal CM launches SMS Gateway in Himachal
Oct 1st, 2009, Shimla: Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister Himachal has reiterated his Government’s resolve for providing transparent and efficient services to the people of the State and added that to ensure it optimum use of e-governance services would be ensured. He was speaking on the occasion of launching the SMS Gateway Service. The service has been started in the district of Shimla, Solan and Hamirpur districts to begin with which will be extended to the entire State.
Chief Minister said that the SMS Gateway Service was an endeavour of the State Government to keep pace with the technological advancements in the information technology sector as also bring about efficiency in delivery citizen centric service to curb delay and corruption at different level. He said that the system was bound to bring about transparency in the governance and common man would be the focal point for delivering all information and services besides making the administration accountable towards the citizens.
He said that the facility would enable the departments to send SMS to citizens either individually or in bulk thereby creating a medium for effective interaction between Government and citizens, so that exchange of information and access to government department services was speeded up and made convenient. He said that the service would be saving on account of stationary and communication charges as well since the SMS would be much cheaper, eight paise per message.
Dhumal said that the service would also be useful in obtaining the status of various applications made to different authorities by the common man which would be required to message the status to the concerned person. He said that the use of the service had initially been started in the districts of Shimla, Solan and Hamirpur where information regarding driving licences, certificates, vehicle registration certificates, armed licences etc. would be delivered to the applicants through the service.
He said that computerization of the revenue record was nearing completion while most of the departments had computerized their record to deliver people efficient services through the IT network. He said that soon the police stations in the state would be receiving first information reports on line for which the infrastructure had been upgraded.
Chief Minister said that 3,366 Lok Mitra Kendras were being opened all over the State which would provide easy access to the rural people to stay in touch with the authorities at different level and get their grievances registered through e-mail. He said that Himachal Pradesh happens to be the highest tele-density in the country where the network was being strengthened and best use of the technology being ensured. He added that State had won National Level Award for HIMSWAN.
Four laning of Parwanoo-Solan Section of NH-22 in Himachal approved
Oct 1st, 2009: Himachal, News Nahan: The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the implementation of project of four laning of Parwanoo-Solan Section of NH 22 in the State of Himachal under NHDP Phase III on Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) basis.
The main object of the project is to expedite the improvement of infrastructure in the State. The project is one of the stretches approved by the Government under NHDP Phase III. The project road runs between Parwanoo and Solan, which will facilitate in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic running between these two Hill towns and give a boost to the tourism industry.
The total project cost is estimated to Rs.549.00 crore under DBFO pattern. The concessionaire will make all expenditure to complete the project and will recover the same by user fee for 20 years including a construction period of 30 months.
Centre urged to provide Additional quota of foodgrain on BPL rates
October 1, 2009: Ramesh Dhawala, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister said that Central Government was providing 14,490 metric tonne wheat and 7,118 metric tonne rice to 10,70,000 APL ration card holders of the State. He said that every APL ration card holder was getting 14kg of wheat and seven Kgs of rice every month. He said that State Government was providing wheat at the rate of Rs. 8 per kg and rice at Rs. 9/- per kg at subsidized rates to APL ration card holders.
He further said that the State was getting only 21 kg per family instead of norms of 35 kgs per kg.
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister said that the Chief Minister had taken up the matter with the Central Government to provide additional quantity of wheat and rice for APL families on BPL rates keeping in view the prevailing drought situation in the State. He said that Central Government had agreed to provide additional quota of 2477 metric tonne on APL wheat and 1238 metric APL rate but its price was far more than those foodgrains which were being provided under PDS. He said that the State Government had again requested the Central Government to provide the additional quantity of foodgrains on BPL rates.
He said that Central Government had also provided the general quota of 5,000 metric tonne of levy sugar for the month of October. He said that the State had also received 2880 metric tonne of levy sugar for tribal area and 2514 metric tonne of levy sugar for festival season. He said that nine teams from the State had left for Maharashtra to procure sugar from Maharashtra sugar mills and added that as soon as the levy sugar would be procured from Maharashtra, it would further be provided to consumers.
Central Government Sanctioned Rs.137.82 Crore under IWMP
October 1st, 2009: A Government spokesman had said here today that a sum of Rs. 137.82 crore has been sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh under Integrated Watershead Management Programme by the Government of India.
Spokesman said that the amount had been sanctioned for the 10 districts of the State which includes Bilalspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una and added that under this Project, 90 percent of the amount would be provided by the Government of India and 10 percent of the cost borne by the State Government. In the first phase 91885 hactare rainfed area would be treated under the programme.
He said that the project was aimed at enhancing the income of people residing in watershed area and water conservation, afforestation, agriculture and horticulture development and creation of additional employment opportunities would be taken up on priority basis under the programme.
He said that besides providing additional income to the people, drinking water and water for irrigational purposes would also be made available to the people.
Spokesman said that Self Help Groups and Consumer Groups would be formed for associating the people with the programme so that they can derive maximum profit out of programme activities.
He said that this year Government of India had sanctioned Rs.24.81 crore under the programme and state government would provide Rs.2.75 crore.
CM PRESENTED BOOK ON HIMACHAL
October 1st, 2009: Dr. Pramod Sharma, a renowned research scholar of Himachal Pradesh University, presented An Encyclopedic Study of the Himalayan Hill State: Himachal Pradesh– The Paradise of India to Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today.
Chief Minister congratulated and appreciated the endeavour put in by the author in compiling valuable information relating to different aspects of the State in the book, which was bound to benefit the research scholars, readers, tourists, historians and students in updating their knowledge about the State of Himachal Pradesh.
He said that Himachal Pradesh happened to be a potential state to carry exhaustive research on different sectors and there were so many sectors, which were still unknown to rest of the world. He said that the book would motivate the scholarly people to explore other areas of interest to the people outside the State.
Separate Tourist Circuit sanctioned for Jubbal and Kotkhai
October 1, 2009: Narender Bragta, Horticulture Minister said that under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Rs. 12.15 crore had been sanctioned for upgradation of three important roads in Jubbal and Kotkhai Assembly Constituency of Shimla District during 2009. He said that in addition to it, Rs. 4.50 crore had also been sanctioned for development of new tourist circuit for ensuring tourism development in the area.
A deputation of Jubbal and Kotkhai, Assembly Constituency led by Narender Bragta called on Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister here today and thanked him for sanctioning funds for these road and separate tourist circuit for Jubbal and Kotkhai area.
Horticulture Minister said that Rs. 7.50 crore had also been sanctioned for upgradation of Kathang-Solang road in Jubbal Tehsil of Shimla District for 2009 under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. He said that a sum of Rs. 3.50 crore had also been sanctioned for upgradation of a span of eight km. long Khara-Pather-Patsari road of Jubbal Tehsil of the District. He said that Rs. 1.15 crore would be spent on upgradation of Khola road of Nagan in Kotkhai Tehsil and added that the funds sanctioned by the Chief Minister for the upgradation of these roads would fulfill the long standing demand of the people of the area. He said that he personally urged the Chief Minister for upgradation and construction of these roads, which were sanctioned on his request by the Chief Minister.
Narender Bragta also thanked the Chief Minister for including Jubbal and Kotkhai Vidhan Sabha area under separate tourist Circuit and added that new areas would be identified under it and a sum of Rs. 4.50 crore would be spent for development of these new areas. He said that the funds would be spent on Balsan (Gumma), Baggi, Kotkhai, Graog, Giriganga, Kuper, Khara-Pather, Jubbal and Hotkoti tourist circuits so that tourism development in this area would be ensured. Besides, construction of new parking sites, Parks, Temple Fencing, Trekking Hut, beautification, providing facility to the public, Solid Waste Management activities etc. would be carried out in the area, he added.
Bragta said that State Government had undertaken various developmental works in Shimla district during last two years which accelerated the pace of development in the area. He said that effective steps had also been taken for completion of all big projects in stipulated period in this area and added that paucity of funds would not be allowed for this purpose. He said that the Jubbal and Kotkhai had immense scope of tourism development which would not only provide employment avenues to local people but also give boost to tourism activities in the area.
