Shimla, Jan 9,
In a meeting today, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, took several key decisions. One of the major decisions was the approval for the establishment of a Special Task Force to combat drug abuse. This task force will focus on dismantling drug trafficking networks and organized crime in the state through a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach.
The Cabinet also approved an ordinance to amend Schedule 1A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, enabling the imposition of a uniform stamp duty of 12 percent on transfer and lease transactions secured under Section 118(2)(H) of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, with prior sanction from the State Government.
In a move aimed at environmental protection, the Cabinet approved a ban on the felling of trees, with exceptions for Safeda, Poplar, and Bamboo. Additionally, the felling of Khair for sale will be governed by a ten-year program.
Also read: Blanket ban on Green Felling of trees in Pvt land in Himachal
During the meeting, the Cabinet paid tribute to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, acknowledging his significant contributions to India and Himachal Pradesh’s development. Projects such as the Atal Tunnel, medical colleges, IIT Mandi, and the ESIC Hospital at Ner Chowk were made possible due to Dr. Singh’s vision and support. The Cabinet also honored his transformative tenure, which included landmark initiatives like the Right to Information Act, MNREGA, Aadhaar, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In memory of Dr. Singh, the Cabinet approved the renaming of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) to Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration.
Further, the Cabinet approved the inclusion of several new categories of families in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list, including families headed by women or with disabled members, and those that have worked for at least 100 days under MNREGA in the previous year. Families with earning members suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, or Alzheimer’s will also be included.
To enhance public service delivery in remote areas, the Cabinet gave its approval for the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ program to redress grievances from residents in difficult-to-reach regions of the state.
On the energy front, the Cabinet reiterated its request to the Government of India to adopt a 90:10 funding formula for the power component of the Kishau Multipurpose Project. It also delegated the responsibility for the allotment and monitoring of hydro, solar, and Green Hydrogen projects to the Department of Energy. A 1 MW Green Hydrogen project will also be established in Nalagarh.
The Cabinet approved the imposition of Green Energy Development Charges for Pumped Storage Projects. A charge of Rs. 2.5 lakh per MW per year will be levied for the first ten years after the commissioning of the project, increasing to Rs. 5 lakh per MW per year thereafter.
Additionally, the Cabinet introduced the Himachal Pradesh Sadbhawana Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme 2025 to expedite the disposal of pending cases and arrears under various subsumed enactments like VAT and CST.
To further strengthen environmental protection, the area surrounding the Tara Devi Temple in Shimla district will be designated as a Green Area. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 10 Junior Office Assistant (IT) positions for the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and authorized C-DAC under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to conduct computer-based recruitment tests for Group-C posts through the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog.
In efforts to enhance governance, the Cabinet approved the upgrade of Sub Tehsil Panchrukhi in Kangra district to a Tehsil, as well as the creation of new Sub Tehsils in Dhamwari (Shimla), Saho (Chamba), and Chachiyan (Kangra).
Further decisions included the bifurcation of the Block Primary Education Office Shilai in Sirmaur district and the transfer of three gram panchayats in Kangra district to better serve the residents.
The Cabinet also approved the Baddi-Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority Land Pooling Policy-2025 and the establishment of the Himachal Pradesh State Water Informatics Centre to collect and disseminate water-related data. Lastly, Rathal Jatar Mela in Shimla district will be declared a district-level fair.
These decisions were conveyed by a State Government spokesperson, highlighting the Cabinet’s commitment to addressing the state’s challenges across various sectors, from health to energy, and ensuring sustainable development.
