Shimla: With union commerce minister Anand Sharma’s Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant, lobbying for filling the seat with a BJP candidate has intensified as last ditch efforts were being made to arrive at a consensus between the Shanta Kumar – Dhumal factions.
Having shortlisted five names which include Radha Raman Shastri – a former speaker, Chandermohan [...]

Shimla: As part of $ 800 loan facility being extended by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for clean energy development program in Himachal, the bank would soon release the second tranche of $ 59.1 million soon, a top official disclosed on Sunday.
Tarun Kapoor, managing director of HP Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) said that an agreement between [...]

Shimla: A moderate intensity earthquake rocked the region on Sunday. Meteorological director Manmohan Singh said that the earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter were felt in Punjab and Himachal at 12.23 p.m. today.
The tremors lasted on a few seconds only and there was no report of loss to life and property from anywhere.
Epicenter of the [...]

Shimla: Within the agro-climate zones of Himachal, Chamber of Indian Industry (CII) has recommended that besides agri-food processing industry, it was information technology that had tremendous potential of being growth drivers of the future.

Speaking at the Annual CII Session here today, Anil Sehgal – Chairman CII HP state council said that for agri – food [...]

Shimla: Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a central government agency under ministry of commerce and industry has approved Rs 8.61 crore for HP Horticulture Marketing Produce Corp (HPMC) to revamp 6 of its packing houses.
Prakash Thakur, director APEDA, disclosed that HPMC would sign an MoU with APEDA on March 19th for [...]

Shimla: Holding a mirror to the higher judiciary, eminent jurist VR Krishna Iyer, a retired Supreme Court judge here stated that long past the colonial era, judiciary had failed in its duty to deliver justice to the common man.
With Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishanan sitting on the dais, the nonagenarian justice Iyer speaking [...]

Expressing concern about ‘the rot of corruption’ having crept into the judiciary, a doyen of Indian judiciary, VR Krishna Iyer, retired Supreme Court Judge asked judicial officers to find tangible solutions to reduce and wipe out the pending cases in courts and provide speedy justice to the people.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the two [...]

Shimla: Union minister Virbhadra Singh came down heavily on the state government here today saying that while law and order conditions were being allowed to deteriorate, police forces were being used to suppress political opponents, effectively turning governance into a police state.
Talking to the media at his residence here the minister mentioned incidents about [...]

Shimla: ‘March is here but not gone,’ said steel minister Virbhadra Singh about the term of excise exemptions permitted under incentives for new industry in Himachal that is to running against the month end deadline, unless extended.
While talking to the media, the minister said that the two union cabinet ministers (he and Anand Sharma) from [...]

Shimla: Absorbing the setback of the below expectations transfers recommended by the 12 Finance Commission, the Himachal Pradesh government budget today sought to tighten belts and proposed overall increase of 4 percent value added tax (VAT) slab to 5% that would raise prices of many items barring edible oil and food grains, which stand exempted.
Other [...]

Shimla: Congress, the main opposition party has termed BJP government 3rd budget of the term as anti-inclusive, anti farmer and anti people wherein addition tax burden has been imposed on a people living under runaway food prices.
Reacting to budget proposals that chief minister Dhumal put out in the house, Vidya Stokes, leader of the opposition [...]

Shimla: There were a record over 1.14 crore tourists who visited the state in 2009, which was more than 17 percent from the previous year. The states current population is projected to be only 70.29 lakhs.
In response to a question by Kaul Singh (congress), during question hour chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal let the legislative [...]

Shimla: Low productivity of fruit crops notwithstanding, Himachal is expected to achieve a growth rate of 7.5 percent for 2009-10 that is likely going to beat the projected national growth rate of 7.2 percent for the financial year, the state economic survey report released today held out.
The survey report expects the per capita income for [...]

Shimla: Tragic death of three children in Kolah village of Kangra because of abandoned explosives from a firing range with which they were innocently playing exploding on their bodies on Tuesday resonated in the Vidhan Sabha today.
In response to a call attention motion, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that there was a need to [...]

Urmila Singh, Governor inaugurated an exhibition of paintings, sculpture, ceramics and prints titled ‘Digressions’ and ‘Phalgun Utsav’ at Gaiety theatre Shimla today. The exhibition was organised jointly by Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi and Language, Art and Culture Department, Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla: The Women Reservation Bill to ensure 33 percent reservations for women in the Parliament and legislative bodies was passed today in Rajya Sabha.
Ambika Sood, Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh Women Commission has thanked all the parties for ending the fourteen years long battle and showing unequivocal support towards the cause.
She lauded the efforts made by the [...]

Shimla: A day after the Himachal government announced a stiff 30 percent hike in bus fares, opposition congress today staged a walkout in the ongoing budget session of the assembly demanding a roll back.
Not satisfied with chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s reply to the motion of thanks over the governors address, Vidya Stokes leader [...]

Shimla: Himachal Produce Marketing Corporation (HPMC) in the presence of chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Swami Ramdev of Patanjali Yogpeeth entered into an understanding for supplying of apple juice concentrate and other products to the Haridwar based Ayurved unit for 2 years.
Speaking after the signing function, the Yoga guru said that the juice concentrate [...]