The Himachal Pradesh Government has directed all fair price shops in the State under the public distribution system to issue cash memos to ration card holders drawing rations from these retail outlets, as the State Government was planning to prepare e-ration cards for different categories of consumers, Chief Minister PK Dhumal said on Thursday.

Shimla: The much-awaited public hearing on environmental issues regarding the proposed Himalayan Ski Village (HSV) project in Kullu district, scheduled for the coming Saturday, has been postponed. The reasons for postponing the meeting is apparently the election code of conduct.

Solan: Tourism, infrastructure, skilled manpower and strong governance are critical for Himachal Pradesh

Hoshiar Singh Thakur, a zila parishad member from the area, has expressed resentment for thousands of people of the six gram panchayats of the Naina Devi area. The residents were forced to drink polluted water by the Department of Irrigation and Public Health through the Kala Kund-Naina Devi lift drinking water supply scheme.

GANGTOK, March 3

The Planning Commission today approved an annual plan outlay of Rs 2,700 crore for Himachal Pradesh for 2009-10.

The outlay, which include a special Plan assistance of Rs 500 crore for projects of importance to the state, was fixed at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Himachal Assembly on Thursday passed the Annual Budget for 2009-10 and also the related Appropriation Bill, authorising the State to spend Rs 14,016.75 crore from the consolidated fund.

PC Lohumi | Shimla

The Railway Ministry has sanctioned Rs 350.33 crore for construction of 20 kilometer-long stretch of proposed 63 kilometer Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Bairi broad-gauge railway line, Chief Minister DK Dhumal told Vidhan Sabha on Thursday.