Himachal cabinet approves 'Van Mitra' scheme

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 11 (ANI): The Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday in Shimla decided to approve 'Van Mitra' scheme of the Forest Department, said an official statement by government.
According to the official statement, one 'Van Mitra' each in 2061 Forest Beats would be engaged under the scheme to strengthen the involvement of local communities in the protection, conservation and development of forest areas by roping in grassroot level institutions.
The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said the official statement.
The cabinet also nodded on filling up 100 vacant posts of Forest Guards in the Forest Department on a contractual basis, added the official statement.
The press release further informed that the state cabinet further decided to make a monthly increment Rs 500 in the payment of Jal Rakshaks, Multi-Purpose Workers, Para Fitters and Para Pump Operators of Jal Shakti Vibhag raising their income to Rs 5000, Rs 4400, Rs 6000 and Rs 6000 respectively.
The Cabinet approved in principle to establish a passenger ropeway system from Chintpurni Baba Mai Dass Bhawan Parking to Chintpurni Temple in PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode in district Una with a cost of Rs 76.50 crore in order to facilitate the pilgrims, said the statement.
It also gave its approval to hire 15 e-taxis in the Transport Department.
According to the official release, the cabinet also decided to promote amateur and community radios for alternate communication during emergencies in all districts of the state which would provide effective information exchange between information sources, emergency managers and those impacted by disaster or emergent situations.
The decision was also made to reduce additional goods tax on lead by 25 paise per kg.
Further in the meeting, the state cabinet accorded the approval to grant 234 routes for private operators and an additional 100 routes for tempo travellers to provide better transport facilities to the people of the state, said the official statement.
Approval was also given for declaring Traffic Inspectors, Motor Vehicles Inspectors, Senior Motor Vehicle Inspectors of the Transport department and Assistant Sub Inspector and Head Constable of the Police Department as designed authority to compound the offences under various Sections of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, added the official statement.
As per the press note, the Cabinet also decided to provide two Biswas of land in urban areas and three Biswas of land in rural areas to those who have been rendered homeless and to those who are not left with land suitable for the construction of new houses.
The release further mentioned that the state cabinet nodded on the special relief package for the disaster-affected families in the state as announced on September 30, 2023 by the Chief Minister.
Under the special package, a compensation of Rs 1.30 lakh for a completely damaged house would be increased to Rs 7 lakh. Apart from this, the compensation of Rs 4,000 for partial damage to a 'kutcha' house would be increased to Rs 1 lakh, while the compensation for partial damage to a 'pucca' house is to be increased from Rs 6500 to Rs 1 lakh.
Additionally, the compensation of Rs 25,000 given in case of damage to a shop or dhaba would also be increased to Rs 1 lakh and the state government will also provide increased financial assistance of Rs 50 thousand instead of Rs 3000 for damage to the cowshed, said the official release.
The state government will provide assistance of Rs 50,000 for damage or loss to the belongings of the tenants which earlier was Rs 2500 and for the loss of a large milch or draught animal the compensation would be Rs 55000, added the official release.
For the loss of a goat, pig, sheep or lamb, the compensation would be Rs 6000.
According to the press note, the compensation of Rs 3615 per bigha for damage to agricultural and horticultural land would also be increased to Rs 10 thousand while the compensation on crop loss of Rs. 500 per bigha is to be increased to Rs. 4000.
The financial assistance for removing silt from agricultural and horticultural land is to be enhanced from Rs 1384.61 per bigha to Rs 5000 per bigha.
This special package would be granted for the damage suffered during the period from June 24, 2023, to September 30, 2023.
According to the official release, it was also decided during the cabinet meeting that the Shimla Development Plan would be amended and construction would be permitted in the green belt area lying above the road from Navbhar to Ram Chandra Chowk to Machhiwali Kothi to Christ Church to Lakkar Bazar to IGMC to Sanjauli Chowk to Navbhar, residential construction in Green belt area as per Shimla Develop Plan will be permitted only on those plots in which there are no trees.
A decision was also taken to amend HP Town and Country Planning Rules to allow construction at a distance of 5 meters and 7 meters from Nallah and khad respectively, said the press release. (ANI)