Tag: Himachal Pradesh

umbrella act combining all water-related laws Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Improved Air Connectivity Will Open Distant Destinations To Tourists: Sukhu

By LokMarg

To increase the footfall of tourists and achieve the target of tourist arrivals to around five crores annually, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stressed strengthening the air connectivity and said that 16 heliports were being constructed in all the district headquarters including tribal and far-flung areas in a phased manner to facilitate the tourists to access unexplored destinations in no time.

He was presiding over a meeting late Friday evening in this regard. A detailed presentation was also given on how to enhance the tourism influx to achieve the desired target.

It was informed that in the first phase, nine heliports were to be developed including Jaskot in district Hamirpur, Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra, Sultanpur in district Chamba, Manali in Kullu, Jispa, Sissu and Rangreek in Lahaul-Spiti and Sharbo in district Kinnaur.

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “Detailed project reports (DPRs) for the construction of Sultanpur, Rakkar, Palampur and Jaskot heliports have been received, while for other heliports, the process was underway. Apart from this, the Kangra Airport was being expanded to facilitate the high-end tourists.” 

The Chief Minister informed that in the second phase, the remaining seven heliports would be set up in Pangi and Holi in district Chamba, Auhar in district Bilaspur, Dharkiyari in district Sirmaur, Chanshal in district Shimla, Jankaur-Haar in district Una and Galanag in district Solan.

He said that FCA approval for establishing Rakkar heliport has been received and FCA cases of six heliports including Jaskot, Manali, Jispa, Sissu, Rangrik, Pangi and Holi have been uploaded on the portal.

“Once commissioned fully, the heliports will prove to be a boon to the tourism sector of the State,” CM Sukhu stated.

“When the destinations are made easily accessible, many people prefer to travel there thereby giving a fillip to the local tourism industry and adding to the economy”, added Sukhu.

Tourism is one of the key sectors contributing to the economy of the State, besides opening up employment and self-employment opportunities to the local youth.

He reiterated that the State Government has decided to make district Kangra as ‘Tourism Capital’ of the State and would spend about Rs 3000 crore on this mega venture. This initiative will bring many new projects in the times to come.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister Vivek Bhatia and other senior officers also attended the meeting. (ANI)

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Himachal

Himachal: Choppers Rescued Over 780 People, Says IAF

By LokMarg

Choppers belonging to the Western Air Command carried out over 50 sorties over the last 48 hours, rescuing over 780 citizens in the flood-affected areas of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, Indian Air Force officials informed on Wednesday.

Speaking on the ongoing relief and rescue operations in Fatehpur sub-division of Kangra district, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Nipun Jindal, told ANI, “A total of 800 trapped civilians were rescued on August 15. Further rescue operations are underway with the help of NDRF, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. All necessary arrangements have been made for those rescued so far. Relief camps have also been set up for them.”

Earlier, on Wednesday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions of Indora and Fatehpur in the Kangra district.

He took stock of the ongoing evacuation efforts in the flooded downstream of Pong Reservoir and other relief works. Interacting with people in relief camps at Damtal and Shekhpura, the CM enquired about their well-being while assuring them of all possible assistance from the government.

He also expressed concern over the loss of lives and material damage wrought by heavy rains and flooding in the state’s upper reaches.

Sukhu said colossal damage has been caused to public and private properties. Scores of locals helplessly saw their homes being washed away while vast areas under harvest have been submerged under water, leading to untold losses to farmers.

“I assure you of a special package, especially for these areas, including compensation and relief materials,” the chief minister said.

He directed the administration to make sure that people sheltered in relief camps are properly cared for.

Apart from providing free lodging and boarding, the health department has also deputed medical teams to take care of children, elders besides others, officials informed.

The chief minister also directed officials to ensure sufficient stock of eateries and essential medicines for relief operations.

The toll from rain-related incidents over the last three days has been pegged at 71, officials said on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Onkar Chand Sharma, principal secretary, Disaster Management, said incessant rainfall from August 13-15 has claimed a total of 71 lives while the net fiscal loss this monsoon has been estimated at about Rs 7,500 crore.

“More damage was wrought on August 13,14 and 15 than the entire month of July. The net loss to property and public infrastructure has been estimated at Rs 7,500 crore. This estimate might be revised going forward as rescue and relief operations are still in progress and a detailed estimate will take time,” Sharma said. (ANI) 

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Shimla-Kalka road on the National Highway-5

Shimla-Kalka Road At NH-5 Closed After Landslide In Himachal’s Solan

By LokMarg

Shimla-Kalka road on the National Highway-5 was closed after a landslide occurred in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district in the early hours of Friday, police said. 

“Today Aug 11, at around 2:35 am to 2:40 am, due to rains, Shimla National Highway 5, between Thambu Mod and Chakki Mod, has been closed due to landslides from the hill,” an official said. 

Shimla-Kalka road was opened for traffic on Wednesday following the restoration work. The road was closed after a landslide last week. 

Meanwhile, the combined death toll from rains, floods, and landslides in Himachal Pradesh has reached 223 since the onset of the monsoon in the state on June 24. 

“So far, 223 people have lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh and 295 have been injured. As many as 800 houses have also been damaged completely, while another 7500 houses have been partially damaged,” Himachal Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said. 

National Center for Seismology said that an earthquake of magnitude 3.4 on the Richter scale jolted the Lahaul And Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh. 

The tremors were felt at 23:20:41, Indian standard time (IST).

According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 5 kilometers. (ANI)

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‘Himachal is Paying the Price for Unbridled Growth & Greed’

By LokMarg

Rajesh Chandel, a hospitality professional and native of Himachal Pradesh, says unplanned growth and rampant exploitation of resources put the hill state in a dangerous position. His views:

According to government estimates, since the arrival of monsoon in mid-June, Himachal Pradesh has incurred a loss of over ₹5,000 crore. And the monsoon mayhem continues, this figure is increasing by the day with fresh reviews and assessments. Though the government is trying its best to compensate the losses to the best of its ability, most of the losses are bound to repeat again if we do not mend our ways of exploiting nature in every possible way.

The entire state is falling short of river beds thanks to the uncontrolled building activity that has encroached the threshold area of the rivers leaving no options for the rivers other than to break free and swallow everything that comes its way. Besides, the deforestation is also being carried ruthlessly leaving no option for the rain water to seep back in the ground; this also results in more frequent landslides.

The state saw this kind of destruction in the early 90s and that too when constructions and deforestation was not on such dangerous levels. This time, nature has been more ruthless and not a single district of the state has been spared of mass destruction. Sand mining mafias are also adding dangerously to the cause of the extinction of the state and the authorities still do not have any concrete measures to check this illegal activity.

About 40 years ago, about 50 percent of the roads were natural (kachchi), leaving ample breathing space for the soil and a majority of the rain water to go back into the soil. Now, more than 90 percent of the roads and communicable paths are either concrete or pitch roads leaving very little breathing space.

ALSO READ: ‘Entire Uttarakhand Is Sitting On A Powder Keg’

Besides this, the tourism industry, which was full of hope to bounce back after the Covid pandemic, the calamity has washed away the hopes of hoteliers, business owners and locals who were dependent on it.

The unprecedented rainfall (from June 15 to July 15) left thousands of tourists stranded in the rain-ravaged areas in Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Mandi. Over 70,000 of them were evacuated, including many foreigners. Landslides and flash floods triggered by the heavy rainfall also washed away sections of many highways and damaged many bridges across the state, damaging connectivity.

The tourist footfall before the floods touched 1.6 crore. It was more than the pre-pandemic stage. But after the disaster hit Himachal tourist spots, the footfall has reduced occupancy to barely 2 to 7 percent as against the 75 to 80 percent during this time of the year.

What I could suggest is that now, when nothing can be done about the unplanned development (read construction) along the river beads, plains and mountains and uncontrolled deforestation, the government should wake up and take strict corrective and restrictive measures to check the blind race of development. Besides, guarding our natural resources and putting a check on uncontrolled construction and mining, efforts should also be made to spread public awareness about our natural resources without which we stand nowhere.

The narrator is the vice president of Ghandharvi Builders, a private hospitality group in Himachal Pradesh

As told to Rajat Rai

Delhi Services Bill

RS Passes Bill For Inclusion Of Hattee Community of Trans Giri Area In Himachal In Scheduled Tribes List

By LokMarg

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill with a voice vote to include the Hattee community of the Trans Giri area of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Speaking on the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said the the Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 which lists the tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in States and Union Territories.
The Minister said demands for inclusion of Hatti tribe in the Trans- Giri area of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh have been pending for a long time, and their inclusion to the Scheduled Tribes list will help them in providing long pending justice.

The Minister mentioned that the border sharing people from four blocks of Tran Giri of Himachal Pradesh have their relatives identified as Scheduled Tribes in Uttarakhand.

Responding to the members, Munda said it is the responsibility of respective Governments to ensure no tribal land alienation takes place in their states.

He also listed the number of initiatives taken up by the Tribal Affairs Ministry in the field of health and education in tribal dominant areas.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in December last year.

On September 14, 2022, the Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the addition of some Tribes in the list of Himachal Pradesh.

The process to include tribes in the Scheduled Tribes list begins with the recommendation from the respective state governments, which are then sent to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, which reviews and sends them to the Registrar General of India for approval. This is followed by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes’ approval before the list is sent to the Cabinet for a final decision.

At present Bhot, Bodh; Gaddi; Gujjar; Jad, Lamba, Khampa; Kanaura, Kinnara; Lahaula; Pangwala; Swangla; Beta, Beda; and Domba, Gara, Zoba tribes are included in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh hovernment had earlier requested the Centre to include Hattee community of Trans Giri area of Sirmour district in Scheduled Tribes list, excluding those communitieswhich are already notified as Scheduled Castes for the state. On the basis of recommendation of the state government, the Government of India proposed to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in respect of State of Himachal Pradesh by amending the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. (ANI)

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Orange alert for Himachal

Orange Alert For 8 Districts Of Himachal Today

By LokMarg

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)  has issued an orange alert and predicted heavy rainfall in eight districts of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, said an official.

Deputy Director IMD Bui Lal on Saturday said that the IMD has issued an orange alert in Himachal Pradesh for heavy rains in several districts of the region over the course of the following 24 hours.
The IMD Deputy Director also mentioned that many areas of Himachal Pradesh received hefty downpours in the last 24 hours, with the Sirmaur district receiving 195 mm of rain.

“Many areas of Himachal Pradesh have received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, with Sirmaur district receiving 195 mm of rainfall. In the next 24 hours, the IMD has issued an Orange alert with heavy rainfall expected in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Bilaspur districts,” said Bui Lal.

Earlier Kullu Deputy Commissioner on Saturday said that five crore rupees relief amount was provided to those affected by floods in the district.

“People who are affected by the heavy rainfall in the Kullu district are being provided with a relief amount by the government. People whose sources of income were affected along with their houses and shops are being procured the relief amount. Till now, 1,700 families have been affected by the floods. Most of the families were provided with Rs five crores of relief amount”, said Ashutosh Garg, DCP, Kullu.

Garg further added, “Still, the employees of the revenue department are on the field and distributing the relief amounts”. ‘Notably, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed massive financial and infrastructural losses due to the downpour.

The incessant rainfall led to several landslides and flash floods.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said that the state has faced the harshest rain and flood disasters in the past 75 years. He also said that the loss incurred by the state due to the rain-induced damages could reach 8,000 crore rupees.

The Chief Minister said there is a need for immediate financial relief from the Union Government.

“The central team has visited the state. We have demanded the pending 315 crore rupees of the 2022-23 disaster fund from the Union Government. The loss is estimated to be 8,000 Crore rupees. We are trying to restore the roads, electricity and water supply in the region,” said the Chief Minister while talking to the media.

The Chief Minister said that Himachal was in need of immediate relief from the Union Government in this disaster situation. On the continuous heavy rain alert, he said teams are ready and the priority is to save the lives of the people. (ANI)

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HImachal Pradesh Heavy Rains

58 NDRF Teams Deployed In Flood-Affected Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, U’khand, Delhi

By LokMarg

A total of 58 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are deployed in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, where torrential rainfall and the release of water from barrages have resulted in unprecedented floods.

Among these 58 NDRF teams, 16 are deployed in Delhi, 11 each in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and 10 teams in Punjab and Haryana each, said the NDRF.
In view of the prevailing situation, these 58 NDRF teams have been deployed in flood-affected areas of these states for rescue and relief work in coordination with the state administration.

Till now, the NDRF said, its teams have rescued 1,423 people from difficult areas and evacuated 4,404 people to safer places in Delhi.

Besides, the NDRF teams are conducting regular rescue and evacuation operations in flood-prone areas in other states also.

Overall, during the current monsoon season, the NDRF has rescued more than 2,039 precious lives and evacuated 13,965 people and several live stocks, said the NDRF.

The force is also providing medical assistance to needy people and distributing relief material in coordination with the State administration and Police.

NDRF’s control room in its Headquarters in Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and is in close coordination with concerned authorities and stakeholders. (ANI)

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Tourists stranded in kasol

10,000 Tourists Stranded In Kasol; 60,000 Evacuated: Sukhu

By LokMarg

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that a total of 60,000 stranded tourists have been evacuated from the flood-affected areas.

“Until 9 am today, a total of 60,000 stranded tourists have been successfully evacuated from Himachal Pradesh. I am currently stationed in Kullu for the past three days, overseeing the ongoing rescue operations”, CM Sukhu shared in a tweet.
He further informed that approximately 10,000 tourists are stranded in Kasol and Tirthan Valley due to road damage.

“Approximately 10,000 tourists are stranded in Kasol and Tirthan Valley due to road damage. We are facilitating the transportation of these tourists by trans-shipment, utilising jeeps and HRTC buses,  from the point where the road is damaged”, he said.

The chief minister also thanked the Indian Air Force for their efforts in the ongoing rescue operations.

In a tweet, CM Sukhu said, “I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts of the @IAF_MCC in this ongoing rescue and relief operation. Despite the extreme and challenging conditions, they demonstrated exceptional skill by rescuing seven individuals who were ill from Chandra Taal Lake. Large-scale air evacuation was not possible at Chandra Taal due to slushy conditions and the unavailability of the helipad. Furthermore, the Indian Air Force had offered to deploy a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter to assist in the transportation of excavators and heavy machinery.”

CM Sukhu on Wednesday said that mobile network connectivity has been restored in Manali.

After BSNL Mobile, Landline and FTTH services were restored in Manali on Wednesday, CM Sukhu said that efforts are underway to restore the network in Kasol.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Competitive (Preliminary) Examination was pushed back to August 20 due to incessant rainfall and road damage. The exam had earlier been scheduled on July 23.

As per data shared by the Disaster Management Authority, to date, a total of over 1000 roads are closed, nearly 2,000 electricity schemes are affected and 1,200 water supply projects are hampered in the state due to rain.

Further, incessant rainfall led to flash floods and landslides, causing significant damage to life and property in Manali. (ANI)

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Red and orange alert in Himachal

Fresh ‘Red’ And ‘Orange’ Alerts In Himachal For Next 24 Hrs

By LokMarg

There appears to be no immediate respite in the offiing for Himachal Pradesh, which has been battered by rains over the last few days, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Tuesday, issued “red” and “orange” alerts for several districts of the hill-state for the next 24 hours.

“A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Chamba. A flash flood warning has been issued for Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti for the next 24 hours,” said senior IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma on Monday.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur on Monday said the state recorded unprecented rains in the past few days, adding that he was concerned over the loss of lives and damage to public infrastructure.

Thakur, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Assembly, told ANI that Himachal Pradesh had “not seen such rain in its history” as over 12 major bridges have been damaged.

“We never saw such a situation in the past several years. I am very concerned over the prevailing situation in the state. Several big and small rivers are in spate and if the situation persists over the next few days, there could be further damage,” he said.

The rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh triggering landslides, causing power disruption, blocking roads, and damaging bridges. Nature’s fury in the state has claimed 20 lives over the past 48 hours.

Tourists were stranded in parts of the hill-state, with the loss of infrastructure estimated at between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs. 4,000 crore.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state has not seen such heavy rains in the last 50 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, spoke to the Himachal CM on the prevailing situation, assuring full support from the Centre. (ANI)

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Modi talks with sukhvinder singh

Modi Speaks To Sukhu; Takes Stock Of Excessive Rainfall

By LokMarg

In the wake of excessive rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and inquired about the extent of the damages caused to life and property due to heavy rains and floods in the state.

According to the release, Chief Minister informed him that the State has been severely affected by floods and heavy rainfall, leading to extensive damage and provided an update on the situation and sought liberal assistance from the Central Government to tackle this natural calamity.
The Chief Minister informed PM Modi that the State Government was closely monitoring the situation.

He said that the region had been experiencing incessant rainfall, leading to severe floods and landslides, besides damages caused to roads, water and electric supply. The calamity has resulted in the loss of 17 lives and caused widespread destruction, with property worth thousands of crore being swept away, the release read.

The torrential rains have wreaked havoc on Himachal Pradesh, affecting the lives of many across the State, stated the Chief Minister, adding that the state government was actively engaged in providing aid to those affected by the floods. Essential supplies were being provided to the stranded individuals and efforts were underway to airlift them once the weather conditions improve.

CM Sukhu also expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Prime Minister for deputing National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) by the central government to assist in the rescue operations, the release said.

The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh would require substantial assistance from the Union Government to recover from the extensive losses caused by the calamity.

He appealed to the Prime Minister to extend a special economic package to aid in the state’s recovery process.

In response to Chief Minister’s concerns, the Prime Minister assured him of the Union Government’s unwavering support, promising all possible assistance to come out of this crisis.

National President, of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jagat Prakash Nadda, also called the Chief Minster on the phone and took stock of the damages and about relief and rescue operations being carried out in the State.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Union Government to declare the situation as a National calamity, as the recovery process is estimated to take a long time. (ANI)

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