Punjabkhabar Bureau
Shimla June 25:The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved the H.P Tax on Luxuries (in Hotels and Lodging Houses) Amendment Bill so as to exempt new hotels in rural areas from payment of luxury tax for a period of ten years from the date the hotel starts functioning.
Staffing norms were approved and nod was given for creation of posts for various administrative unit's right from Sub-Divisions to Tehsil and Sub-Tehsil level for smooth functioning of revenue administration.
The Cabinet decided to fix the transportation rates of supply of cement to the government departments and semi-government organizations at Rs. 7.75 per kilometer per tonne.
The Cabinet also approved to open Primary Health Centers (PHC) at Seri-Bunglow, Mahog and Bagshad in Karsog assembly segment of District Mandi along with nine posts of various categories for these PHC. This would benefit around 54 thousand population of the area.
A uniform policy will be made applicable for one time settlement of approving the lease to all the under construction and existing hydro power projects pending with the Government and the concerned Deputy Commissioners for which the Union forest and Environment Ministry and the State Forest Department has granted approval for diversion of forest land before 31.12.2012. The Deputy Commissioners concerned have been directed for approving the lease in favour of the concerned construction companies and projects and get deposited the Net Present Value (NPV) amount from the date the Government land was being used and the then lease norms prevalent by recovering the outstanding amount from them within three months and grant lease thereof.
The cabinet nod was given to transfer government land on nominal cost in favour of Geological Survey of India for construction of Training Institute Complex at Shiwalik Fossil Park at Suketi in district Sirmaur. Besides, approval was also given to transfer 2.01 bighas of forest land for constructing road from Kumarhatti Solan bypass to Maharishi Markandweshwar Campus.
A decision was taken to exempt felling of paper mulberry, Kachnar, Safeda, Oei, Kimu, chimu, shahtoot grown on private land from the requirement of transit passes.
It was also decided to provide 9705.033 metric tonne of apples free of cost for extracting juice to processing units of HPMC under Market Intervention Scheme, 2013.
One post each of Associate Professor and Assistant Professor would be created in the department of Radiotherapy and Oncology in IGMC, Shimla.
It gave nod for the proposal regarding extension of limits of Sarahan Special Area to ensure planned and controlled development along the roads and various other growth pockets under the ambit of H.P town & Country Planning Act by including some parts of revenue Mohal Sarahan Kanai and Bonda.