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BBN Node is Under Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor, says CM
BJP Chief Nadda Highlights the Modi Government's Achievements and Slams Opposition Congress and Others in a Rally in Kangra; Anurag Says Congress Comes to Power in HP by Promising 'False Guarantees'
Champions of Gender Equality Bat For 50 Per Cent Seats for Women in State Assembly and Lok Sabha in India
Meet Charming Arushi Sharma, a Techie-Turned-Bollywood Star from Shimla
Two 'Killer-Trallas' Overturned, Crushed to Death Four Innocent People Including Husband-Wife on Dhalli and Chaila Roads in Shimla; HPPWD, RTOs, RRT Police, NHAI Yet to Take Call
'Children of Lesser God' Will Now Enjoy a Free 15-day Holiday Air Trip Across India Every Year: CM Sukhu's Lohri Gift to State's Orphans
'Desecration' of Statues of Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Shimla's Historic Ridge Sparks Silent Outrage
'Olympics of Cultures' in Washington: World Cultural Festival Brings Thousands of Budding Artists to US Capital
'Women in Khaki' Breaking All Barriers to Prove Their Mettle in the "Khaki Male Bastion"
"CM Sukhu Figures Among First Top 100 'Most Powerful Indians": A Survey
"Give Us Land for Land and House for House", MandiBalh Farmers to the Sukhu Government
"People First, Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention" Anti-Drug Campaign Lunched by HPSLSA in Himachal Pradesh
“HimbuMail's Exposé Spurs Swift Justice for Stranded Tourists in Kullu: Tourists Receive Compensation for Guest House Ordeal"
**Breaking News: Rajya Sabha Passes Controversial Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023**
**Over 167 Spiti Tribals on Hunger Strike Demanding Life-Saving Water Project, Seeks CM Sukhu's Intervention
10 Trainees Dead, Eight Safe While 18 Others Missing in an Avalanche-Hit Draupadi Ka Danda-II Peak in Uttarakhand
100 New Sainik Schools to come Up in Two years Time in the Country
100 Students and 100 Teachers and Trainers Get a Primer on AI and Robotics at IIT Mandi
103 PG Pilots Took Part in Bir-Billing Pre-world Cup; Site Will be Promoted as a Tourist Destination, Says CM Sukhu; But Where is Waste Management System?
118 Tourists Airlifted from Sangla Valley in Kinnaur; Shimla-Kalka, Shimla-Rampur-Kaurik National Highway Remain Breached at Several Places

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News

HP Cabinet Approves 700 home Guard posts, Refund Scheme to Tackle Waste, RERA Shifted to Dharamshala

Shimla, May 31:

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, took several key decisions including the creation of 700 posts of Home Guard Volunteers and the introduction of a "Deposit Refund Scheme 2025" to curb non-biodegradable waste.

In a significant green move, the Cabinet approved the launch of the Deposit Refund Scheme on a pilot basis. Under the scheme, consumers will pay a refundable deposit on packaged products — such as glass bottles, plastic containers, aluminium cans, liquid packs, and multilayered flexible packaging — which will be reimbursed upon return of the empty packaging.

The government aims to make producers and consumers jointly responsible for reducing waste.

The Cabinet also gave a green signal to fill 700 posts of Home Guard Volunteers under the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department, enhancing community security and disaster readiness.

In an administrative reform, the Cabinet approved regularisation of 203 Panchayat Secretaries (Zila Parishad cadre) who have completed two years of contract service as of March 31, 2025.

Medical education reforms were also on the table. The government amended the PG/SS policy by scrapping the mandatory one-year field posting prior to eligibility for senior residency at IGMC Shimla and RPGMC Tanda.

This step aligns the state’s policy with that of AIIMS, Chamiyana, and is expected to streamline the selection process for resident doctors.

Further, the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office will be shifted from Shimla to Dharamsala for better regional balance in administration.

The Cabinet gave in-principle approval to restart the de-novo reservation roster for members and chairpersons of Panchayati Raj Institutions, a move similar to what was done in 2010.

In forest governance, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation has been allowed to collect minor minerals and carry out dredging in forest areas’ rivers and ponds.

The move aims to manage natural resources more efficiently while ensuring environmental sustainability.

For better grassroots education administration, a new Elementary Education Block will be created at Baddi by bifurcating the Ramshahar block in Solan district.

Necessary posts will also be created and filled to ensure smooth functioning.

The Cabinet also approved reorganisation of development blocks Sulah, Bhawarna and Lambagaon in Kangra district and Bharanj in Hamirpur, aimed at improving governance and accessibility in these regions.

News

Plastic Rules Keylong and the Manali-Keylong-Leh Highway

Trash Trail to Lahaul: From Atal Tunnel to Keylong, Plastic Rules the Road

Shimla/Keylong—

As thousands of tourists pour into Lahaul through the Atal Tunnel, they leave behind more than just Instagram stories — they’re dumping garbage across the ecologically fragile slopes of this high land Himalayan valley.

From Koksar and Sissu to Keylong, Jispa, and Darcha, it’s a plastic trail of shame.

“Irrigation canals are choked, water can’t reach the fields.

Garbage floats in with the glacier melt, clogs everything, and ends up in the Bhaga River,” says Nawang Upasak, former panchayat head and tribal advisory committee member from Lower Keylong.

At Keylong, the district headquarters, heaps of garbage lie rotting near the police lines. Locals say the situation is out of control.

“There’s no dustbin, no wire fencing to stop the trash from flowing downhill. We need basic waste control — is that too much to ask?”

Where’s the green fee going?

The district charges tourists a “green fee” — but locals and homestay owners ask, green where?

“We pay taxes, tourists pay fees — but the garbage is still lying everywhere. Where’s the system?”

Plastic is seen floating in the irrigation water, entering the rivers, and flowing down with the Bhaga into the Chandra-Bhaga (Chenab).

The mess from the north portal of the Atal Tunnel, Koksar, Sissu and tourist hot spots like Shashan and Jispa, Darsha, Bara La Cha is all ending up in our rivers.

Locals say the solid waste is supposed to be shifted to Manali for treatment — but is anyone actually checking?

High court rules, but who cares?

The Himachal High Court has laid down rules for panchayats and municipal councils. Even MLAs are supposed to monitor plastic waste handling.

But on the ground, it’s open season for dumping. “No one’s watching.

Not the panchayat, not the MLA, not even the district officials. The rivers are taking the hit,” says a local hotelier.

DC’s all-women team faces Himalayan test

Lahaul’s Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhandana leads an all-women administration team — and this is their biggest challenge yet: can they clean up this mess before the season peak?

With every passing day, the trash trail gets longer, and the image of this pristine valley gets uglier.

> Welcome to Lahaul — where tourists bring cameras, and leave behind chaos.

#TrashTrailHimalayas #EcoDisasterInLahaul #WhereIsGreenFeeGoing #CleanUpOurMountains

News

Supreme Court Orders NBE to Conduct Singh Shift NEET PG Exam

Big Relief for NEET PG Aspirants: Supreme Court Orders Single-Shift Exam After UDF Petition

New Delhi: Medical aspirants got a big relief on Friday as the Supreme Court ordered the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct NEET PG 2025 in a single shift. The decision came after a petition by the United Doctors Front (UDF), which had flagged concerns over fairness in multi-shift exams.

Calling it a “momentous occasion,” UDF National President Dr. Lakshya Mittal said, “This ruling validates our demand for a transparent and equal evaluation system. One shift means all students face the same level playing field.”

The UDF had argued that multiple shifts could lead to disparities in difficulty levels and scoring, putting some candidates at a disadvantage. The apex court took note and ruled in favour of uniformity.

“This is a big win for the entire medical fraternity. We thank the Hon'ble Supreme Court for understanding the gravity of the issue,” added Dr. Mittal.

The United Doctors Front said it will continue to fight for the rights and welfare of medical students and professionals across the country.

News

BREAKING: Spy Suspect Nabbed in Shimla — Possible Link to Bomb Threats to Govt Offices

Shimla, May 30 — Security agencies are on high alert in Himachal’s capital after a shocking development.

Army Intelligence has detained a suspicious youth from the RTRACK area of Shimla on Friday, suspecting his involvement in espionage and possible links to recent bomb threats targeting government offices in the city.

Sources say the youth was spotted acting suspiciously near a sensitive army zone. He was immediately taken into custody by the Army and interrogated at multiple locations.

Preliminary suspicion suggests he may have been leaking confidential military information to Pakistan or another foreign country.

After initial questioning, the Army handed him over to local police for further investigation. His identity has been kept under wraps for now.

This fresh arrest is now being linked to a series of recent high-alert incidents that have followed the launch of Operation Sindoor — a joint crackdown on sleeper cells and intelligence leaks.

Just two days ago, police arrested another suspect in Dehra, Kangra district, who is currently on police remand.

Shimla SP confirms to media:
“The youth was picked up by the Army and is currently under interrogation.

We are probing every possible angle, including his potential connection to the recent bomb threats targeting Shimla’s government offices.”

With threats of blasts looming and suspects being picked up one after another, intelligence agencies are treating this as a serious national security concern. Officials say more arrests could follow as the net widens.

Hydro Power

HP Government puts on Hold Reclaim of 500 MW Dugar Project from NHPC

Govt Move to Reclaim 500 MW Dugar Hydel Project from NHPC Put on Hold Amid Court Case

Shimla, May 30:

The Himachal Pradesh government’s plan to take back the 500 MW Dugar Hydroelectric Project from NHPC has been paused, as the matter is currently under judicial scrutiny in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.

As per a letter from the Directorate of Energy, the Council of Ministers, in its meeting held on April 5, 2025, had approved two key decisions:

1. The Dugar Hydroelectric Project, initially allotted to NHPC, may be taken back.

2. An independent evaluator may be appointed to assess the actual expenditure incurred by NHPC on the project.

However, NHPC, in its official communication to the state government, has requested that the decision be kept in abeyance until the High Court gives its ruling.

Adding weight to the government's decision is the fact that there has been no physical work progress at the project site ever since the project was allotted to NHPC. Despite being handed over years ago, NHPC has failed to initiate any substantial groundwork or infrastructure development on site, sources confirmed.

The Dugar project, located in the remote Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba region, is seen as a vital asset in Himachal’s green energy roadmap. The state's move to take it back is being seen as a push for accountability and faster execution of delayed hydro projects.

For now, the file is in limbo—waiting on the High Court's decision before any further action can be taken.

#DugarHydroProject #HimachalEnergyCrisis #NHPCDelay #GreenPowerPush

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