Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated the four-day-long International Lavi Fair at Rampur Bushahr in Shimla district.
Lavi fair has had commercial importance since long and it has also become a cultural festival of Himachal Pradesh.
Paying rich tribute to former Chief Minister Late Virbhadra Singh, the Governor said that it was due to his efforts that Rampur Lavi was given the status of International fair in the year 1985. He prayed to Mata Bhimakali for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the state.
CM releases book of of Omesh Bharti and DD Bharti on Snakes Species of Himachal
Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released a book on Snakes of Himachal Pradesh, which is compiled and edited by Principal, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Omesh Kumar Bharti and Dr. D.D Bisht.
The Chief Minister evinced interest in the documentation on venomous and non-venomous snakes of Himachal Pradesh and said efforts were required to create awareness among people of the state on this issue.
The book contains the photographs of snakes at different locations in Himachal Pradesh, which have been documented and identified by a team of researchers led by Dr. Anita Malhotra, a molecular biologist from Bangor University in the United Kingdom, of which Dr. Bharti was a part.
The team caught snakes in the jungles of Himachal Pradesh with the permission of wildlife wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest department, took their venom and DNA samples before leaving them back in the same habitat.
The DNA and venom samples of the HP snakes are being tested in the laboratory in Tejpur University Assam with the help of Dr. Archana Deka from department of molecular biology.
Padma Shri awardee in medicine, Dr. Bharti is on the panel of World Health Organisation (WHO) for snakebite management and is the National Principal Co-investigator of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study on snakebite incidence in the country, which involves 13 states across the country, including Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal seeks cooperation from UK to strengthen sports infrastructure:
British Deputy High Commissioner Caroline Rowett calls on Public Works, Youth Services and Sports Minister Vikramaditya Singh in Shimla.
Discussion were held on various issues and especially for strengthening sports infrastructure in the state and training exchange programs for the players and coaches including enhancing skills by organizing special classes. This will not only help in cultural exchange but capacity building and strengthening of relations between the two countries, said the Minister.
Discussions were held for for up gradation of sports infrastructure and investment and advanced coaching programmes and workshops for coaches, online and offline coaching of players, and organizing advanced training courses related to sports psychology and physiotherapy.
Apart from this, possibilities of cooperation in setting up funds for various activities, administrative exchange programmes, adaptation courses to increase the physical capacity of players and high altitude training centers were also discussed.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the present state government was taking steps to promote sports activities in Himachal.
He urged the British Deputy High Commissioner for all possible cooperation in strengthening the sports infrastructure in the state.
Geothermal technology empowered Rs. 8 crore CA Store to be setup at Tapri:
An Iceland based company Geotropy Iceland would set up a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Store in Tapri of Kinnaur district on pilot bases using innovative geothermal technology, benefitting local apple growers.
A pact was inked between the State Government and the Company in this regard, in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The CA store would be having a storage capacity of one thousand tons and would be erected at an estimated cost of Rs. 8 crore.
The adoption of geothermal technology is useful in reducing carbon footprints, aligning with the state government’s goal to preserve the environment.
Chief Minister launches first phase of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up scheme:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched e-taxi scheme under the first phase of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Yojna and the website of the Transport Department to provide the facility of online registration for e-taxis, through which applicants can get themselves registered by visiting the website within a period of one month.
500 permits would be issued in the first phase and the number of permits will be increased as per the demand in the near future. The state government would also provide e-taxi to the government departments in a phased manner to provide assured source of income to the unemployed youth.
The government was also providing 50 percent subsidy to the youth for the purchase of e-taxi and the conditions for taking loan under this scheme will also be relaxed.
This scheme would go a long way in minimizing air pollution and assist making Himachal Pradesh a Green Energy State by 31st March, 2026 together with providing self employment avenues to the youth.
