The meeting of State Cabinet held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jal Ram Thakur reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the State. Thus, in order to break the virus chain, the Cabinet decided to further extend the Corona Curfew in the whole State till 31st May, 2021 with same restrictions.
It was decided that Department of Health would encourage private
hospitals in the State to increase vaccination in their institutions.
It was felt that MLAs may review along with concerned SDM
the welfare/ treatment being provided to Cavid patients in home isolation
The Cabinet gave its approval to excise policy for the financial year 2021-22 which envisages collection of Rs.1,829 crore
revenue during the year which is Rs. 228 crore higher than the financial year 2020 21 thereby registering an increase of 14 per
cent.
Considering the present situation arising out of Covid, the excise year 2020-21 has been extended by one-month up to 30th
June 2021. The new excise policy will be operational for 9 months i.e. 1st July 2021 to 31st March 2022. Approval was also
given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the year 2021-22 for the renewal fees of 3 per cent of the value of
unit/vend with an objective to gain adequate enhancement in government revenue, reduction in the price of liquor and to curb
its smuggling from the neighbouring states.
According to the New Policy, low-price brands of IMFL will be cheaper as license
fees and excise dury have been reduced facility of transfer of quota within district and inter-district has been approved. The
new excise policy also allows 15
of country liquor quota for liquor manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the
retail licensees.
The balance 85 per cent quota can be liſted by the retail licensees from the suppliers of their choice. This was
earlier 30 per cent. It
it envisages
the increase in license fees by 5 per cent and quota by 3 per cent. New license for serving of
liquor in tented accommodation has been approved and new licenses for visitor centre in wine manufacturing units and wine
tasting festivals has been approved. Similarly, new License in form D 2E has been approved for production of ethanol for the
purpose of exclusive supply to petroleum companies, sale of certain high-end brands of liquor in departmental store through
license in form L-10BB has been approved subject to certain terms and conditions and liquor quota of bars attached to hotels
has been reduced by 50 per cent. License fees for CSD canteens have been reduced and facility of liquor canteen license in L
9 & L-9A has been allowed to all the Central Armed Police Forces
Cabinet has approved in principle to have Excise Police in the Excise and Taxation Department to check the inter-state and
intra state smuggling of liquor, illicit trade and bootlegging of liquor leading to substantial loss of excise revenue to the
government exchequer.
The price of adding a sub vend has been significantly reduced and penalty on unlifted quota has been
rationalised, whereas breakage for wholesaler for storage and transport has been increased from 0.5% to 0.6%. It is hoped
that this policy has taken into account all stakeholders which include government, consumers, retailers, wholesalers, bottling
plants, distilleries and hotels and bars.
All sections were engaged by the department in taking feedback based on which these
decisions have been undertaken.
The Cabinet also decided to extend the current year Toll Leases by one month upto 30th June, 2021 which subsequently
would be auctioned. The Leases for the year 2021-22 would be operational from 1st July, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.
The Cabinet approved new scheme for implementation of Project on Fodder Development as per the announcement of the
Chief Minister in the budget 2021 22. The project envisages propagation of planting stock of perennial high yielding grass
species, fodder trees and their further dissemination on farmer's fields as well as gausadans in the state.
The Cabinet also approved 33 posts of different categories, 11 each in newly created Municipal Corporations, Mandi, Solan
and Palampur for smooth functioning of these Corporations.
The Cabinet gave its consent to fill up 20 posts of Drivers in Agriculture Department for its smooth functioning.
It also approved to declare historic Dussehra Festival, Junga in Shimla district at District level Fair.
The Cabinet decided to open new Sub Tehsil at Thakurdwara under Tehsil Indora in Kangra district alongwith creation of
requisite posts, new Sub Tehsil. Telka in Chamba district and also decided to upgrade Sub Tehsil Nagrota Surian in Kangra
district to Tehsil alongwith creation of required posts to man this Tehsil. It also gave its consent to create new Patwar Circles
at Toba Sangwan (Kaunlawala Toba) in Shri Naina Devi Ji Tehsil, Kharsi in tehsil Sadar and Badol and Rohal in Jhanduta Tehsil
of Bilaspur district alongwith creation of one post of Patwari and one post of part time worker for each patwar circle to
facilitate the people of these areas.
It gave its consent to provide approval in favour of M/s R.K.V. Spirit Private Limited Kala Amb, Tehsil Nalagarh in district Solan
for setting up distillery, Brewery and Ethanol Plant based on extra neutral Alcohol (Liquor).
The Cabinet gave nod to open new Division of Public Works Department at Sarahan in Sirmaur district and Sub Division at
Gagal Shikor alongwith two new Sections at Sarahan-ll and Gagal Shikor alongwith creation of requisite posts to man these
offices.
It decided to open a new Government Pharmacy College in Sulah Vidhan Sabha area of Kangra district alongwith creation of
requisite posts to man this college.
The Cabinet gave its consent to fill up 34 vacant posts of Associate and Assistant Professors in Dr. Y.S. Parmar Government
Medical College, Nahan, district Sirmaur, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, Shri Lal Bahadur
Shastri Government Medical College, Ner Chowk, district Mandi, Dr. Radhakrishanan Government Medical College, Hamirpur,
IGMC, Shimla and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda In Kangra district through direct recruitment to
provide specialized health services in these medical colleges.
It also gave its consent to create and fill up one post of Assistant Professor in Rheumatology Cell in Department of General
Medicine in IMC, Shimla.
It gave its permission to fill up five vacant posts of Professors, Assistant Professors and Associate Professor in Department
of Nephrology in IGMC Shimla and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College Tanda to benefit the patients.