Shimla: Struggling to keep the HPMC fruit juices brand afloat, the Himachal Pradesh horticulture minister Narinder Bragta was able to secure a deal with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), today when Rajesh Tandon MD IRCTC accepted the state PSU’s proposal to serve Himachal juices on the trains. After the meeting Bragta said that [...]

Artists performing in a play “Kafan” written by Munshi Prem Chand in Gaiety Theater, organized by language and culture department Himachal Pradesh on Friday.

Shimla: A two month old boy died and five others sustained injuries when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and went off the road within the city in the early hours on Friday morning. Abhi, a two month old boy died on the spot when the Scorpio SUV (HP-48-0009) he was in went [...]

Shimla: To replenish aging apple orchards the Himachal Pradesh government has mooted an ambitious Rs 148 crore plan even as horticulture minister Narender Bragta, has got the central agricultural ministry to agree for increasing assistance from Rs 23,000 to Rs 56,000 per hectare for replantation of orchards with newer varieties. Bragta met union agriculture minister [...]

Solan: Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Rajiv Bindal handed over the keys of five Naino cars to each lucky winners first time in the state at a private Auto Showroom here today. Amoung the five lucky winners who have received Naino Cars were three form Kangara district, Mr. Chandan Grover, Mr Karnail Rana and Mr. Ajay [...]

Shimla: The Himachal government while issuing directions for implementation of market intervention scheme for procurement of ‘Fair Average Apples’ during 2009 has stated that 56,645 tons of fruit would be procured during the season. The procurement price under the scheme would be Rs. 5.25 per kg and HPMC and HIMFED, both government agencies would handle [...]

Shimla: As the Himachal government heads into the monsoon session next week, the cabinet, which met today with chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the chair, declared the entire state as drought affected. The cabinet after taking stock of the prolonged drought conditions declared all 12 districts as drought affected, a cabinet spokesman said. The [...]

Shimla: Forest department is to get tough with encroachers as it plans to deploy special officers for evicting violators in Shimla, Rampur and Kullu even as plans for having expanding Van Thanas is to be expanded as minister JP Nadda admitted that a pilot project to contain simians in demarcated parks had failed. At a [...]

To tame the sorrow of Una, the central government has approved Rs 235.52 crore as part of Phase II of Swan River Flood Management and Integrated Land Development Project, Ravinder Singh Ravi, minister for Irrigation and Public Health disclosed. He said that the sum would be spent on channelization of Swan river, which used to [...]

Shimla: To mop up additional revenues, the excise and taxation department has hiked additional goods road tax on fly ash, iron, aluminium, limestone and some other items which is bound to impact pricing of these goods. Bhim Sen, principal secretary excise and taxation said that the last revision of goods tax on these items was [...]

Shimla: A male leopard cub (2 months) captured by the forest department in the house of Mr Ravi Kumar of Baloh village, in the northern hill town of Shimla on Wednesday 29 July 2009. The animal entered the house but remained trapped inside as the main gate was locked by the owner of house. They [...]

Shimla: It was a joy ride that went horribly wrong as the horse, two children were riding on The Ridge, went berserk throwing the child riders off and dragging one of them, a girl, for about 50 meters as the horseman failed to control the animal. Several hundred tourists and others who were out on [...]

Shimla: Bishop Cotton School, one of the oldest public school in Asia founded in 1859 celebrated its 150th Foundation day in the Holy Trinity Chapel here today. Mr. P.K. Samantaroy, Bishop of Amritsar & Chairman, Board of Governors of Bishop Cotton School was Chief Guest, addressed the Sesquicentennial celebrations. The foundation day celebration was also [...]

Shimla:  Heavy rain lashed many parts of Himachal Pradesh as south-west monsoon remained active in the state during last 24 hrs. Amb of Una district and Pachhad of Sirmour experienced highest rain of 120 mm each followed by Ghamroor in Bilaspur 101mm. In Kangra district, Palampur received 109 mm ranifall, Kasol 91 mm, Dehra Gopipur [...]

Most of my friends and family have already dismissed me as an eccentric because I take off for the high mountain climbs every season the snow melts. Why can’t I join the mainstream rush to the driveable hill retreats, they ask me. All I tell them is what I am sharing with you now, that [...]

Shimla: The cabinet, today, modified terms for grant of Himachal bonafide certificates by extending residency period from 15 to 20 years even as it approved the market intervention scheme (MIS) for apples, launched a new forestry plantation scheme and created a new forest circle for Hamirpur. Presided over by chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, the [...]