Himachal Pradesh Weekly - Carbon Credits, 82% Rainfall Deficit & Union Budget 2025
Jan 2025 Week IV - A comprehensive round up of all the updates from the pahari region.
The Himachal Pradesh government has established a Carbon Credit Committee to explore the carbon market and generate revenue. It is looking to leverage its hydropower potential, green energy, and forest wealth to tap into the carbon credit market. Each carbon credit represents one ton of CO2 equivalent reduced or captured. The global carbon market is booming with the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) valued at $850 billion in 2023.
Welcome to this week's newsletter. To dive deeper into all the stories from the week - residentpahari.com/himachal-news
Environment & Climate Change
Rainfall Deficit: The state has faced a significant lack of rainfall, with a 82% deficit in January. The state received only 14.7 mm of rain from January 1 to 31, compared to the normal rainfall of 85.3 mm. This deficit is impacting agriculture and horticulture, particularly wheat crops and apple orchards.
A two-day annual bird census is being conducted at Pong Wetland in Kangra district by 25 teams, including 125 bird experts and forest department employees. The census, a collaboration with NGOs and institutions such as the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), will cover 25 sections of the wetland. Last year's census recorded 117,022 birds from 198 species, but experts fear a decline this year due to dry conditions. The Pong Wetland is a crucial wintering destination for migratory birds.
The illegal extraction of Kashmal roots in Himachal is causing revenue loss and ecological harm. The roots, valued in Ayurvedic medicine and dye production, yield 1 kg of powder per quintal and sell for over Rs 1 lakh per kg. Kashmal prevents soil erosion, retains moisture, supports wildlife, and sustains river water levels. Authorities have seized up to 20 quintals of illegally extracted roots and arrested offenders.
Former Himachal Pradesh BJP minister and Gaddi tribal leader Kishan Kapoor passed away at the age of 73 in Chandigarh's PGIMER. He had been suffering from a prolonged illness. Kapoor served as the Lok Sabha MP from Kangra from 2019 to 2024. He was a five-time MLA from Dharamsala.
Major Ojaswi Sharma, a native of Mohalla Hardaspura in Chamba , was awarded the Sena Medal by the President on the 76th Republic Day. He was recognized for his extraordinary courage, professionalism, and dedication while executing high-risk missions in Arunachal Pradesh.
Economy & Infrastructure
Union Budget 2025: Key Highlights for Himachal Pradesh. A $250 million Multilateral Development Bank loan has been proposed to support the state. A World Bank team will visit Himachal to assist in project planning, while the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation will oversee the technical and economic appraisal of state-submitted projects for multilateral funding.
The first road using the full depth reclamation (FDR) technique is being constructed in Sirmaur district. The project, spanning approximately 28 km from Kaffota to Jong in the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur district, marks a significant shift in road construction practices in the state. The process involves recycling the existing road material by mixing it with specific chemicals and cement. This mixture is then used to reconstruct the road, eliminating the need for charcoal and gravel. The absence of these materials makes the process eco-friendly while also reducing the environmental footprint of road construction.
Expanding air connectivity
Two new flights between Gaggal and Chandigarh from March 30, plus three more flights to Jaipur, Noida, and Dehradun, increasing daily flights from 6 to 10. Gaggal Airport’s runway will extend from 1,376m to 3,110m, with ₹500 crore disbursed for land acquisition. Security enhancements include second-shift operations, a Bomb Disposal Squad, and 40-50 additional personnel.
A Chandigarh-Kullu-Dharamshala route is proposed, while the state seeks full central funding for an international airport.
The Himachal Pradesh government is actively promoting solar power adoption through various initiatives. The PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme encourages residents to install rooftop solar plants. Excess energy produced by households through solar power can be sold back to the electricity board, creating an additional income stream.
Education
Highlights from Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024
Himachal Pradesh has shown remarkable improvement, securing the top position in reading levels among Class III students, with 46.6% able to read a Class II level Hindi textbook, compared to the national average of 23.4%. The state has also seen a 10 percentage point increase in various educational areas since 2022. However, 56% of students in Class VIII, and Class V, cannot do division, and 16% of Class VIII students cannot read a Class II level text.
Digital Literacy: While over 80% of rural children can use a smartphone, social media is the primary use, rather than using them for studies.
A key change in shift to appointing teachers based on student enrollment. This may lead to the transfer of teachers from schools with surplus staff to remote areas facing shortages. The government also plans to fill 15,000 vacancies in the education sector and has already recruited 6,200 nursery-trained teachers for pre-primary classes. To ensure quality, the government will implement a minimum stay of three years for teachers at one place and end the practice of mid-session transfers.
Ambuja Cements' Skill & Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) has launched a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science course at its centers in Darlaghat and Nalagarh. The initiative reports it has trained over 75,000 rural youth with a 75% placement rate across various industries.
Agriculture
Hariman Sharma, a farmer from Himachal Pradesh, received the Padma Shri for developing the HRMN-99 apple variety, which thrives in warm, low-altitude regions. Heat-tolerant and scab-resistant, it has been adopted nationwide, with 33,000 saplings planted in 29 states, benefiting over 6,000 farmers.
Apple Orchards: The unseasonal warmth and lack of chilling hours are likely to affect apple production. The Royal Delicious variety of apples, which requires over 1,200 chilling hours, is particularly at risk.
Wheat Crops: The dry spell is severely affecting the rabi crops, especially wheat, with experts warning of potential losses of 20% to 25% if it doesn't rain in February.
Soil Health: Excessive use of phosphorus fertilizers has led to high levels of phosphorus in the soil, which can cause inefficient utilization, environmental pollution, and increased costs for farmers. Farmers are being advised to use phosphorus fertilizers every other year.
Orchardists are demanding a 100% import duty on apples, up from the current 50%, to protect their produce from cheaper foreign imports. There is a concern that apples from countries like Iran and Turkey are reaching Indian markets at low prices.
The Himachal Pradesh government has approved a pilot project for cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. Two universities will conduct the study. The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit for controlled cannabis cultivation has been set to under 0.3 percent.
Public Health & Law enforcement
A case of glanders disease was detected in a mule in Mandi district, leading to movement restrictions for equine animals in Samon village. Restrictions have been imposed on animal movement and the animal husbandry department is following protocols. The disease can also affect humans, making it a risk for animal handlers and vets.
Investigation into Illegal mining in river basins by the ED led to chargesheet and has attached assets worth Rs 4.9 crore. 12 searches have been conducted on the premises of several mining mafias, including Gian Chand and his associates.
State reported a 30% decline in road accident deaths. According to a report published by the Transport Research Laboratory, as many as 806 people lost their lives due to road accidents across the state in 2024 as compared to 1,146 fatalities in 2019.
Himachal Pradesh is continues to face significant challenges with drug trafficking
Shimla Police: An inter-state drug network was busted, leading to 17 arrests including a kingpin from Kolkata. This syndicate operated using online bookings and social media platforms, with over 200 people involved. 50 arrests and 21 cases registered in January alone. In the past year, approximately 630 individuals were arrested and 300 cases registered, with 1400 arrests and over 700 cases in the last two years.
Mandi Police: Three individuals were arrested with 1.37 kg of charas in two separate operations, including a ward panch.
Nurpur Police: Two people were arrested and over 2 kg of hashish was seized, and another man was arrested with 108.60 grams of heroin.
Una Police: Two gangsters were arrested and 367 grams of opium and Rs 2 lakh in drug money were recovered.
Rampur Police: Three individuals were arrested for dealing in chitta (heroin), following a previous seizure of 42.43 gm of chitta.
Dharamsala Police: Three individuals were arrested with over 1 kg of charas.
Policy & Politics
The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to halt the induction of new IAS and IPS officers into the state cadre, stating that the state does not need 153 IAS officers for a population of 70 lakh. The government also aims to reduce the number of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
The BJP in Himachal Pradesh is facing significant internal conflict, mainly due to the selection of a new state party chief. "Original" cadres feel uneasy with the influx of former Congress MLAs. Disgruntled leaders like Ramesh Dhawala are threatening a parallel organization. There's tension between the old guard and new entrants, causing power struggles.
Culture & Tourism
Himachal Pradesh has been named India's Most Welcoming Region for the second consecutive year by Booking.com's Traveller Review Awards. Bir has been recognized as India’s Most Welcoming City, followed by Mararikulam and Leh. These awards are based on over 360 million verified customer reviews, and they highlight the exceptional hospitality and service provided in these areas.
Traditional festivals and fairs
Padid Festival, Pangi Valley: The Pangi valley celebrated the traditional Padid festival, which is dedicated to honoring ancestors. The festival begins with an offering to the Sun God. A key tradition is the exchange of Jevra flowers. The night before Padid, the valley celebrates the Jukaru festival dedicated to Rajawali Devta. The festival also marks an agricultural celebration symbolizing fertility and abundance.
Mandi Kite Festival: The Mandi Municipal Corporation is organizing its first-ever kite festival on the occasion of Basant Panchami (February 2), aiming to revive traditional festivities and promote outdoor activities, while also raising awareness about drug abuse.
Registration and Categorization of Folk Artistes: The Department of Language and Culture has launched a registration and categorization drive for folk artistes in Chamba and Shimla districts to preserve and promote folk culture and provide more performance opportunities to artists.
Dharamshala is set to host three matches in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. This is an increase from the two matches that the stadium hosted last year. The league will continue to explore opportunities to bring matches to other venues, including places like Bilaspur.