Himachal govt approves biotechnology park near Nalagarh

HimVani

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held here today granted permission for development of a biotechnology park over an area of about 35 acres at village Aduwal near Nalagarh in district Solan, on public-private partnership (PPP) model, attracting an investment of Rs 200 crore and generating employment to about 500 persons.

The park will consist of a biotechnology incubation centre to be housed over an area of about 1.07 acre and biotechnology industrial cluster to be developed by private promoter/developer over an area of about 31.93 acres, while it will be contributing significantly towards skill upgradation, technological improvement and capacity building of the youth of the state.

The government also approved implementation agreement (IA) for small hydroelectric projects of up to 5 MW capacity and revised time schedule for achieving various milestones for projects of over 5 MW capacity by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Implementation agreement will now have to be signed within two months of the submission of the detailed project report, which has to be submitted within 30 months from the date of project implementation agreement (36 months for projects in Lahaul & Spiti district) and extension up to one year to be allowed subject to payment of extension fee of Rs 10,000 per MW per month. Freezing of components would start within 12 months from signing of PIA/MOU with provision for extension of upto 12 months on payment of fee of Rs. 10,000 per MW per month. Techno-Economic Clearance (TEC) will have to be obtained within 18 months of the signing of IA with extension period of 6 months on payment of fee of Rs. 10,000 per MW per month. The construction work will have to be started within 24 months from the date of signing of IA or 30 months if extension of six months obtained for securing TEC. No further extension beyond the proposed extensions shall be considered. In case the project developers fail to meet the prescribed milestones within the proposed extensions, the allotment will be cancelled.

The Cabinet granted approval to amendment in Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1999, Rule-69-B and fixed special registration fee for choice vehicle numbers. 0001 registration mark will be available on payment of Rs. 75,000; 0002 to 0009 on payment of Rs. 50,000; 0010 to 0100 on payment of Rs. 35,000 and 0101 to 9999 on payment of Rs. 20,000. It granted permission to fill up 25 posts of Forest Range Officers on contract basis. The Cabinet also approved Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission Report for the period from 1st April, 2008 to 31st March, 2009 to be laid in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

It approved free residential accommodation to the wardens of medical colleges and dental colleges of the state within the campus. It further approved amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Legal Services Rules, 2004; Himachal Pradesh State Judicial Services Authority Rule, 1995 Recruitment and promotion rules of district youth services and sports officers.