Himachal Pradesh Weekly – Projects, Birds & Paragliding Perils

Jan 2025 Week II - A comprehensive round up of all the updates from the Pahari region.

Welcome to this week's update on all things Himachal Pradesh. Dive deeper into the stories with all the references at residentpahari.com/himachal-news

Policies & Government Initiatives

• Himachal Government’s ‘Dung Prosperity Scheme’: The government launched the ‘Dung Prosperity Scheme’, buying dung at ₹3 per kg to support farmers and promote natural fertilizers.

• Birth and Death Registration in Himachal Pradesh Goes Fully Online: The birth and death registration process is now fully online in Himachal Pradesh.

• HP PWD contractors decry meagre Rs 80 crore payments from govt: Contractors are protesting against the government for pending payments

• Financial mess blame game: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the current government has taken ₹28,000 crore in loans, with ₹18,000 crore going towards repaying old debts and interest, blaming the previous BJP government for the state's financial difficulties.

• Cycle Tracks in Shimla: The Shimla Municipal Corporation is developing six dedicated cycle tracks to promote eco-friendly commuting and healthier lifestyles.

• HRTC leads the way in scrapping old vehicles: The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is leading in e-auctioning of end-of-life vehicles.

Accidents and Incidents

• Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh is facing serious safety concerns due to a number of accidents, often resulting in fatalities, and a lack of adequate regulatory oversight. Two tourists died in separate incidents in Kullu and Kangra districts within 24 hours. One involved a mid-air collision of two paragliders, and the other involved a fall during take-off. A 19-year-old woman died during take-off at the Indrunag site near Dharamshala. A tourist from Tamil Nadu was killed, and his pilot was severely injured, due to a mid-air collision in Kullu.
  There have also been a number of other deaths and injuries over the past few years. For instance, between 2017 and 2022, Bir Billing reported 26 paragliding accidents leading to 12 pilot fatalities. In Manali, research indicates that between 2000 and 2024, there were around 125 reported paragliding accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries.

• Safety takes a backseat on Paonta Sahib-Bangran road: Frequent accidents involving heavy vehicles on the Bangran road in Paonta Sahib are raising safety concerns. A truck overturned, narrowly avoiding a major disaster.

• 7 killed in blast at firecrackers factory in Himachal's Una: An explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Una resulted in seven fatalities and ten serious injuries.

• Fire destroys 25 houses in Tandi village: A massive fire in Tandi village destroyed 25 houses, leaving over 40 families homeless. The Chief Minister announced ₹7 lakh compensation for each affected family.

Tourism

• In 2024, Kangra district saw 26,195 foreign tourist arrivals, marking a post-COVID peak however significantly lower than pre-COVID levels.

• Himachal Pradesh Government to Prepare Masterplan for Beautification of Temples: The government is preparing a master plan for the beautification of the Baba Balak Nath, Mata Shri Chintpurni, Shree Naina Devi, and Maa Jwalaji temples.

• Manali Winter Carnival Set to Kick Off: The much-awaited Manali Winter Carnival begins on January 20, with hoteliers and tourism stakeholders anticipating a significant influx of visitors during this five-day cultural event.

• Increased Tourism at Pong Dam: The government's initiatives have led to an increase in tourist footfall in the Pong Dam region, with nearly 30,000 tourists visiting the area last year. Efforts are underway to introduce water sports activities at the Regional Water Center to further boost tourism.

• Kangra-Dalhousie Tourism Corridor: A proposed Kangra-Valley Dalhousie Tourism Corridor is set to reduce the travel distance between Dharamshala and Dalhousie by 45 kilometers and is aimed at boosting tourism in the Kangra and Chamba districts.

• Dharamshala Hoteliers Concerned About Declining Tourism: Hotel associations in Dharamshala met with the Chief Minister to express concerns over declining tourism and suggested developing a mall road and ridge in McLeodganj, similar to Shimla.

• Sissu Suspends Tourist Activities: Sissu, a popular tourist destination in Lahaul-Spiti, will suspend adventure tourism activities for 44 days from January 16 to February 28 due to religious and cultural considerations.

• Kalka-Shimla Railway Modernization: The Kalka-Shimla heritage railway is set to undergo a transformation with new narrow-gauge Vistadome and special winter season trains will operate until February 28, 2025.

Weather and Environment

• Migratory birds: As of December 2024, 92,885 migratory birds were recorded at Pong Dam, and the count is expected to surpass one lakh by the end of the season. This is up from 85,000 birds recorded during the entire season from October to January the previous year. On average, around 100 species of migratory birds visit Pong Dam annually. This season, 85 species have already been observed.

• Fresh Snow in Himachal, Cold wave intensifies; Key routes affected: Fresh snowfall in higher altitudes has caused road closures and intensified cold conditions. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to clear snow on critical routes.

• Snowfall and rains caused significant disruptions to the power supply, with 47 transformers damaged. Several remote villages were plunged into darkness.

• The winter season rain deficit from January 1 to 16 stood at 80 percent.

• A new weather system is likely to bring fresh snow around the middle of next week, with rain possibly extending to Delhi.

Law and Order

• HP IGP, 7 other cops convicted in Kotkhai custodial death case: The CBI court convicted a Himachal IGP and seven other police officers in a 2017 custodial death case.

• One accused arrested in Manikaran murder case: Police arrested one accused in a murder case in the Manikaran area.

• Massive green felling in Bani, over 150 sleepers smuggled: Massive green felling was reported in the Bani Range, with over 150 timber sleepers smuggled.

• Haryana BJP Chief Booked Over Alleged Gangrape In Himachal's Kasauli: Haryana BJP chief and a singer were booked for alleged gang-rape in Kasauli.

• Rising Drug Cases: Drug-related cases are significantly increasing in the state.

  • NDPS cases have risen by 340% in the last decade. Heroin-related cases have doubled from 2020 to 2024.

  • The state has confiscated ₹16 crore in illegally acquired property.

  • The state government has invoked the PIT-NDPS Act to detain repeat offenders.

• Police Actions

  • An SIT is investigating an extortion and threat case in Una.

  • Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed an FIR against former DGP Sanjay Kundu and nine other police officers under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Energy & Renewables

• A 750-kilowatt Dharamshala solar power project was inaugurated recently. It is expected to generate approximately 2,000 units of electricity daily.

• Green Energy Goal: Himachal Pradesh aims to become India's first "Green Energy State" by 2026, emphasizing renewable energy, particularly solar power.

• Solar Projects in Development: The state is evaluating tenders for seven solar projects totaling 72 MW and surveying eight more projects totaling 325 MW.

• Solar for Panchayats: The government aims to develop 200 "Green Panchayats" with 200-kilowatt solar plants.

• Private Sector Investment: Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. is setting up a 500 MW Lithium Plant in Baddi to support e-mobility and energy storage.

• Challenges: The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board is facing issues with debt, operational inefficiencies, and staff shortages while there are concerns regarding the allocation of hydro projects in the Chenab basin.

• Subsidy Surrender: Over 1,000 residents have voluntarily surrendered their electricity subsidies to aid the state exchequer.

Community Focus

• Self-Help Groups empower women in Himachal Pradesh: Self-help groups are empowering women in Himachal Pradesh, boosting rural livelihoods. Mandi’s rural women are weaving their way to prosperity: Women in Mandi district are gaining economic independence through handloom weaving.

• Himachal Ski Mountaineering Association to host inaugural SkiMo championship at Hamta: The Himachal Ski Mountaineering Association’s inaugural Ski Mountaineering (SkiMo) Championship is set to take place at Hamta.

• Center Zone dominates across categories at Spiti Cup 2025: The Spiti Cup 2025, an ice hockey tournament, saw electrifying action, with Center Zone dominating in multiple categories. Sham Zone won the men’s title.

• Kangra Ultra Race to Promote Tourism: Himachal Tourism is organizing the "Kangra Ultra Race" on February 15-16 to promote tourism and local sports.

• Shimla MC seeks public input for 2025-26 budget: The Municipal Corporation is inviting suggestions from local residents for the 2025-26 financial year budget.

Read More at residentpahari.com/himachal-news