Shimla: The transmission of power from the hydel projects located in the Chandrabhaga basin will be undertaken through the 9-km-long Rohtang tunnel, thereby reducing the total cost of transmission by several crores. The state government has already held talks with the Rohtang tunnel authorities to allow the transmission of power through the Rohtnag tunnel by way of gas-filled cables. In case the proposal comes through, it will be for the first time anywhere in the state that power transmission will take place through gas-filled cables.

Hamirpur: The government has provided the drinking water facility in every government school of the state through the Irrigation and Public Health Department.
Now, every government school in the state is being supplied drinking water either through pipes or through hand pumps installed on the school premises or near the school. The government has submitted an affidavit in this regard in the Supreme Court informing it that every government school has been provided the drinking water facility.

Nara (Hamirpur): Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said Rs 57.88 crore were being spent on various drinking water and irrigation schemes in Hamirpur district during the current financial year. Addressing a public meeting at Nara during his two-day tour of Hamirpur district after dedicating a motorable bridge over the Nara-Galot road to the people and a science block constructed at a cost of Rs 62.68 lakh in Government Senior Secondary School, Nalti, he said efforts were afoot to link the Baba Balak Nath shrine with a ropeway.

Mandi: Fourteen towns, including Mandi, Sundernagar and Kullu, in the state are set to get rid of the frequent breakdown of power supply and low voltage as the state electricity board is overhauling its jaded electrical and distribution system under the centrally sponsored Accelerated Power Development and Restructuring Programme. Funded by the Rural Electrification Corporation, Government of India, the first phase of the programme in the state will be carried out in 14 towns and may cost over Rs 200 crore.

With a view to creating awareness and disseminating information about the usefulness of solar energy in the housing, institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, thus reducing energy dependence and cutting green house gas emissions, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, organised a one-day seminar here today.

Welcoming the participants, Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber, said India was the world’s fifth largest energy consumer, accounting for 4 per cent of the global energy consumption.

Though there have been signs of some improvement in the female sex ratio in Himachal Pradesh, state’s health is exploring possibilities of introducing an innovative scheme called ‘mother tracking’. Gujarat has successfully adopted this model for women and child health care.

The scheme, which is expected to be functional next month may first be taken up on a pilot basis and then replicated in the state. All pregnant mothers will be registered up to the block level and the entire data will be uploaded using a software already made available to the state by the Gujarat government.

Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday urged the Centre to declare five existing road stretches in the state as National Highways to help strengthen the network in rural areas, which are emerging as new hubs for growing cash crops and fruits.

The Himachal Pradesh government today decided to cut VAT on Diesel from 14 per cent to 9.70 per cent and bring down VAT on kerosene to zero with a view to providing relief to consumers from the recent price hike on petroleum products.

Officials in the state government said diesel will be cheaper by Rs 1.60 per litre after lowering of VAT.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabi

State issues notices to 1,500 building owners
Hamirpur: After the state government