Shimla, April 5 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Saturday decided to regularise the services of contractual employees who have completed two years of continuous service as on March 31, 2025.

It also approved the takeover of three hydroelectric projects from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) and two from National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: Woman Waylaid, Sexually Harassed on Hennur Main Road in Banasawadi.

The state cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also approved the regularisation of daily wage workers and contingent paid workers who have completed four years of continuous service by March 31.

It approved takeover of the 382 Mega Watt (MW) Sunni, 210 MW Luhri Stage-I and 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydroelectric projects that were earlier allotted to SJVNL, as well as the 500 MW Dugar and 180 MW Baira Suil hydroelectric projects allotted to the NHPC.

Also Read | Himachal Pradesh Bus Accident: 25 Injured After Passenger Bus en Route to Kullu Meets With Accident Near Badiropa Area.

Earlier, the chief minister had maintained that the previous state governments had given the hydropower projects at 12 per cent royalty for an indefinite period, which was wrong, and the projects would be taken back if the royalty is not paid at 12, 18 and 30 per cent and the project returned after 40 years in accordance with the government policy.

The cabinet on Saturday approved the appointment of an independent evaluator to assess the actual expenditure incurred on the Sunni, Luhri Stage-I, Dhaulasidh and Dugar projects, to facilitate their takeover. For the takeover of the Baira Suil project, approval was granted for the appointment of an administrator.

Sanction was also accorded to establish a 50-bedded critical care block each at Regional Hospital Bilaspur and Civil Hospital Rohru in Shimla district with the required equipment and also the setting up of District Integrated Public Health Laboratories at medical colleges in Chamba and Hamirpur.

It was also decided to enhance the stipend for senior residents and tutor specialists from the existing Rs 60,000-?65,000 to Rs 1 lakh per month and the stipend for super specialists and senior residents (super specialists) from Rs 60,000-?65,000 to Rs 1.30 lakh per month.

Recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee constituted to strengthen the Rogi Kalyan Samiti across the state was also approved.

The recommendations included establishment of high-tech laboratories in all government medical colleges and the provision of free diagnostic services to orphans, widows and their dependent children, ekal nari and destitute women.

With the inclusion of these three new categories, the total number of beneficiary categories eligible for free diagnostic services will increase from 11 to 14.

The cabinet gave nod to the recommendations of the sub-committee on resource mobilisation chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and also approved the immediate re-auctioning of around 400 retail liquor vends on an individual basis.

Additionally, it gave a go-ahead to enter into a management service contract with East India Hotels Ltd for the interim operation of Hotel Wildflower Hall in Mashobra, ensuring a monthly revenue of Rs 1.77 crore for the state and safeguarding the property from deterioration until a new operator is selected through a competitive e-auction or bidding process.

The court had directed East India Hotels of Oberoi Group to return the Wildflower Hall Hotel, a five-star property located at Mashobra in the suburbs of Shimla city, to the Himachal government by March 31. However, an agreement was reached between both the parties, allowing the Oberoi Group to manage the hotel for three more months.

To support the adoption of electric vehicles, it decided to set up 402 new EV charging stations at government premises across the state.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)