State to set up AGiSAC |
Chief Minister emphasized the need for taking benefit of the modern technology to deliver people prompt, accurate and efficient services to the people of the State. He said that it was the need of the hour to dovetail the system with latest advancements in science and technology for carrying forward with developmental programmes. He said that directly linked with common man departments of Revenue, Forest, Education, Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development would be taken up under the project in the first stage which would be carrying digitization of their record to make the same transparent and available to the people on internet. He said that in fulfillment of the Budget Announcements made the State had set up State Resource Information Centre and State Centre for Climate Change, Disaster Management, Snow and Glacier Studies. He said that motive behind setting up of State Resource Information Centre was to make best use of space technology for formulation of development plans, its evaluation and monitoring. He added that similarly State Centre for Climate Change, Disaster Management, Snow and Glacier Studies aimed at scientific study of the impact of climate change in the State and initiation of remedial steps to slow down the impact besides changing the cultivation practices suitable to climate change to ensure livelihood security.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had accorded high priority to environment protection to move ahead on the path of sustainable development. He said that the State Government had banned use of polythene carry bags and was using the polythene waste for road construction, launched 'Polythene Hatao Paryavaran Bachao' campaign, Community Led Assessment, Awareness, Advocacy and Action Plan (CLAP) and Environment Master Plan for Sustainable Development besides constituting HP Environment Fund; Nine Point Environment Protection Code introduced at school level, Green School Assessment Programme, Eco-Monitoring Programme and Chief Minister's Himalayan Conclave on Snow, Glacier and Livelihood were some of the initiatives taken by the state Government.
Chief Minister said that balanced regional development dependent upon effective planning which earlier had been central and based upon sectoral approach which resulted into intra and inter disparities and necessity emerged for fragmentation of development planning decentralization. He said that AGiSAC would function as nodal agency for development and planning through Geo Informatics and Space Technology. He thanked the Government of Gujarat for lending its technical support for digitization of the entire data of the State so that every information was available to common man through internet.
Smt. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, said that adoption of modern technology had emerged the need of the hour for effective planning and development. She said that data collection, compilation and updation would help in knowing the realities of developmental requirements in the grass root level planning. She said that people's voice had to be reflected in the planning and development and GIS mapping needed to be given practical shape.
Smt. Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary, said that modern technology could bring about transparency in the government functioning besides providing instant services to the people. She said that a high level team had visited Gujarat State to learn about the practical implementation of the project in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. T.P.Singh, Director, Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG), gave a detailed presentation of the project launched in Gujarat State which had compiles entire data of the state and every information was available at a click of the mouse to any person. He said that the project had been of immense value in carrying need based development and planning besides monitoring the status of different projects without visiting the sites. He assured all help to the State Government in maturation of the AGiSAC project.
Dr. Nagin Nanda, Director, Science, Technology and Environment, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and apprised of the initiatives taken by the State Government in association with Government of Gujarat for launching the AGiSAC project in the State.
Dr. Rajiv Bindal, Health Minister, Ms. Harinder Hira, Additional Chief Secretary, Shri Subhash Negi, Chairman, HPSEB, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of the Departments, Senior officers of different departments attended the workshop.
Farmers to get complex fertilizers soon |
Shri Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary, Agriculture said here today that Government was alive to the needs of the farmers for fertilizers and had put a demand of complex fertilizers of 32000 tonne for entire Rabi season i.e. October, 2010 to January, 2011 with Government of India.
He said that since there was less supply from the Government of India so far it was due to this that some shortage has been reported in some parts of the State.
Secretary, Agriculture said that State Government had received 6800 tonne of complex fertilizers in the month of October against the demand of 10,000 tonne made with the Government of India by the State Government for the month.
The State Government keeping in view the demand of the farmers took up the matter with Government of India and Chief Secretary of the State wrote a letter to Secretary, Chemical and Fertilizers, Government of India to ensure timely supply of fertilizers and also reduce freight charges which was enhanced by the Government of India. He said that Government of India on the request of State Government had reduced the freight charges besides ensuring the timely and adequate supply. He said that in the month of November 2600 tonne of complex fertilizers had been received till first week of November against the demand of 8500 tonne made by the State Government with the Fertilizers Ministry, Government of India. He said that on persistent requests of the State Government the supply of 1500 tonne of complex fertilizers had been received yesterday which would be sent to the area where the farmers were making demand for it.
Shri Ram Subhag Singh said that the State Government had been pursuing this matter with the Government of India from time to time. A meeting of senior officers of the State Government had been held on 27th September, 2010 with Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry, Government of India in which detailed discussions was held for fulfilling the demand of the State for complex fertilizers keeping in view the requirements of the farmers of the State.
He said that Government would ensure that the backlog so far is also met by the State Government of India and further supply is given in time so that farmers of the State did not face any problem on account of fertilizers.
C.M. seeks Rs. 1793 crore for restoration of damaged works due to excessive rains |
Chief Minister said that the State experienced unprecedentedly heavy rains during last prolonged monsoon season which not only caused heavy damage to roads, crops, government and private properties but also took precious lives of many people. He said that 62 invaluable lives were lost in ten districts due to it, while 6,656 houses were damaged in addition to 1,737 cow sheds. He said that massive damage had occurred to the roads which had been estimated at Rs. 921.35 crore. The loos to Irrigation and Public Health schemes had been estimated at Rs. 257.05 crore. The loss to Horticulture Sector had been estimated at Rs. 49.16 crore and Agriculture crops at Rs. 6.29 crore. He said that Deputy Commissioners had reported loss on different account as Rs. 521 crore and State Electricity Board suffered losses worth Rs. 4.88 crore. He said that 17,682 kms. of roads, 45 bridges and 3,250 culverts had been managed badly. He said that the State Government had disbursed an immediate relief of Rs. 123.70 crore through deputy commissioners on various accounts so that people did not suffer and get immediate relief.
Prof. Dhumal said that extensive damage had been to road network and many of the tribal, difficult and backward areas remained cut off from rest of the world for some time which could be opened only by putting in service heavy machinery and Karchham-Sangla, Chitkul, Kupvi-Haripurdhar and Rohru-Dodra Kawar were some of such areas where road damages were intense. He said that the State Government started restoration work on all damaged roads on priority even when it was raining to maintain connectivity by road to different areas. He said cost of temporary restoration had been very high which State had to meet out of its own sources. He said that all such damaged roads required permanent restoration and re-construction which involved heavy expenditure. He said that 3,846 drinking water supply schemes had been damaged disrupting supplies to different areas all over the State which required immediate restoration.
State to decontrol Bamboo on private land |
Chief Minister said that bamboo was one of the species grown in the lower areas of the State and was of utmost use to the people for construction of houses, cow sheds and other infrastructural activities. He said bamboo happened to be an important forestry cash crop grown in lower areas of Bilaspur, Kangra, Hamirpur, Sirmour and Una Districts of the State. He said that for being a forest produce a lot of restrictions and regulations had been imposed on its harvesting and transportation. He said that bamboo had been defined as tree under the Forest Rules and Regulations and its felling, conversion and transportation in the private areas was being undertaken by Special Power of Attorney to work on behalf of the owners of bamboo and its transportation was being regulated under the HP Forest Produce Transit (Land Routes) Rules, for being a forest produce. He said that it had been proposed to decontrol the working of bamboos grown in private areas by taking all types of bamboo out of the purview of the HP Land Preservation Act, 1978 and from the requirement of a permit issued to the effect.
Prof. Dhumal said that the bamboo was considered to be one of the most durable timber for roof top use, particularly in the rural areas. He said that with the deletion of the provisions bamboo owners would be free to fell their produce in accordance with the three year felling programme notified by the divisional forest officer and approved by the Conservator of Forest concerned every year. He said that with the denotification of the bamboo farmers would be facilitated with using their cash produce for bonafide purposes as per their requirements. He added that the State Government had also announced higher subsidy to BPL families, upto 90 percent, for construction of bamboo based poly houses under Rs. 353 crore Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna under implementation in the State to modernize the farming under controlled climatic conditions.
Smt. Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary and other senior officers attended.
Genuine demands of doctors considered |
Presiding over the meeting of Himachal Medical Officers Association here today, Dr. Bindal said that the demands of doctors would be decided within stipulated period. He said that Protection Act had already been passed and being implemented for the security of doctors and para medical staff. He said regarding Contributory Health Insurance cover to doctors, the department would look into it. He said that inquiry against the doctors would now be conducted through Department Inquiry but in special case it could be given to any other officer as was decided in the meeting.
Dr. Bindal said that 51 BMO had been promoted and promotion order had already been issued by the Government today. Besides, two Joint Doctors, 24 Deputy Directors and CMOs were now also working on regular basis in the department and added that now onwards Government would ensure that DPC would be held in scheduled period. He said that the Government headed by Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal in the State, the promotional process which were pending for years together started again for the well-being of the doctors and other staff in Health Department. He said that 225 ward sisters and 54 matrons were also promoted in short span which was also achievement in itself.
He said that 150 doctors were being appointed through Public Service Commission and the process would also be continued in future also. He said that the doctors who were appointed through RKS and given contract appointment by the Government to be sent in RKS, the matter would be taken up before the Cabinet meeting.
Dr. Yash Pal Ranta, Vice-President of the Association thanked the Health Minister for considering most of their demands and said that Medical Officers would always maintain cordial relations with the Government and also dedicate themselves towards their duties.
Earlier, Dr. Jiwa Nada Chauhan, General Secretary of the Association welcomed the Health Minister and read out the demand charter on the occasion.
The meeting was attended among others by Shri P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Health, Shri S.S. Guleria, Special Secretary, Health and Dr. Vinod Pathak, Director, Health Services and other senior officers of Health Department.
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