Himachal Pradesh Weekly – 55th Statehood Edition
Jan 2025 Week III - A comprehensive round up of all the updates from the Pahari region.
Welcome to this week's newsletter. To dive deeper into all the stories from the week - residentpahari.com/himachal-news
Statehood Day Highlights
Cultural Celebrations: : Chief Minister attended the state-level celebrations of the 55th statehood day of Himachal Pradesh held at Baijnath.
Key Announcements:
Launch of Him Pariwar Portal providing access to over 300 government services for residents.
Announcement of 25,000 public sector jobs, new tehsils, PWD sub-divisions, and digital libraries in rural areas.
Development of Tattvani Hot Springs and Kheer Ganga as eco-tourist destinations to boost sustainable tourism.
Recruitment drive for 8,000 primary teachers, 6,000 nursery teachers, and 245 special educators.
Grazing lands to be developed for shepherds under the Forest Rights Act.
A comprehensive BPL family survey to be launched in April to improve social welfare targeting.
Himachal’s only snow leopard in captivity succumbs to cancer: Kajju, the only snow leopard in captivity in Himachal Pradesh, died at the Himalayan Nature Park in Kufri. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) last year, the 15-year-old snow leopard was rescued from Kaza in 2023 with a deep wound on his front left leg, which was later determined to be cancerous.
Governance and Politics
Development Initiatives:
Disaster-hit villages, such as Sunani and Sheel, are being developed into model resilient communities.
Relief measures extended to disaster-affected families, including a special package for the Tandi village fire victims.
A new Home Stay Policy aims to regulate Bed and Breakfast establishments while promoting rural tourism.
₹88 crore in projects were inaugurated in Kangra, including a 1.5 LLPD milk processing plant in Dhagwar to benefit 35,000 milk producers.
Cabinet Approvals: Sanctioned ₹56 crore for robotic surgery equipment at AIMSS Chamiana and Tanda Medical College.
Infrastructure Expansion: Initiatives include India’s longest ropeway project between Shimla and Parwanoo and a drinking water project worth ₹44 crore in Baijnath-Paprola.
Law and Order
Drug Crackdown: Police confiscated assets worth ₹11 crore and arrested traffickers, targeting interstate supply networks. Districts like Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmaur reported significant progress under the PIT-NDPS Act.
Anti-Corruption Drive: Investigations into a ₹20 crore Kangra Cooperative Bank scam and ₹72 lakh cyber fraud have led to multiple arrests.
The Manali Winter Carnival was marred by the murder of a 20 year-old during a brawl at the Manu Rangshala. The cultural programs were suspended for a day due to the incident. The police have arrested a suspect and are investigating.
Himachal scholarship scam: An alleged scam of Rs 250 crore in scholarships meant for 2.38 lakh students from weaker sections in Himachal Pradesh between 2013 and 2019 is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Education and Initiatives
School Mergers: Plans to merge 316 under-enrolled middle schools aim to optimize resources and improve education delivery.
PhD Irregularities: Allegations against HPU’s UIT department for violating fellowship admission rules are under investigation.
Board Exams: The HP Board of School Education announced exam dates for Classes 10 and 12, scheduled from March 4 to March 29.
Mobile Therapy Bus: A first-of-its-kind mobile therapy bus was launched in Chamba to provide on-site rehabilitation services for differently-abled children in remote areas.
Climate Concerns: A 73% rainfall deficit in January has disrupted agriculture and tourism activities. Two new weather radars in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti aim to improve forecasting.
Wildlife Conservation: Vultures in Kangra now exceed 1,400, showcasing successful ecological efforts.
Infrastructure and Environment
Road Safety: Only 32 of 268 identified black spots in Mandi have been rectified, with accidents causing 108 deaths in the last year.
Illegal Mining: Despite NGT bans, violations continue in the Beas River, raising ecological concerns.
Solar Energy: Bids for 8 MW solar projects and a rooftop solar initiative are advancing Himachal’s renewable energy plans.
Garbage Management: Shimla faces waste accumulation issues, endangering public health and local ecosystems.
After 77 years of Independence, Garuli village gets road access: The remote village of Garuli in Kullu district finally got road access after 77 years of India’s independence. The road construction, which began in 2018, is expected to ease transportation for residents.
Urban Housing: In Dharamshala, 63 flats built for the urban poor remain vacant two years after completion.
Tourism and Culture
Tourism Boost: A ₹150 crore ADB-funded project has been launched in Manali. This project includes establishing a wellness center, refurbishing the Naggar Castle and creating facilities such as an ice skating and a roller skating rink.
Paragliding Safety: Recent paragliding accidents highlighted regulatory gaps; Bir now has a paragliding center-cum-hotel complex to improve training and tourism.
Cultural Heritage: The Sinhtoo dance from Sirmaur debuted at Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.
Restricted Tourism: The Koksar Panchayat imposed a temporary ban on tourism for religious ceremonies.
Sports and Struggles
Indra, a six-time national basketball player, is running a momo stall due to financial hardship, sparking discussions on athlete support.
Spiti Cup: The four-day Ice Hockey Spiti Cup-2025 concluded in Kaza, showcasing grassroots ice hockey talent in the region.