Himachal cabinet nod to hold MC elections on party symbols
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet gave nod to hold municipal corporation elections on party symbols.
The chief minister Jai Ram Thakur-led cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for making amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 and Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Elections Rules, 2012.
These amendments would pave way for conducting MC elections on party symbols, provide reservation for OBCs, have provision of disqualification on grounds of defection, and strengthen provisions of no-confidence motion. Election in four MC - Solan, Palampur, Mandi and Dharmshala - will now be held on party symbols. Election date for the four MCs is likely to be announced in March first week of March. It also gave nod to the governor’s address to be delivered during the budget session of Vidhan Sabha from February 26.
The cabinet approved providing government land on lease at the rate of one rupee per month for a period of 99 years in Mauja Dhaulakuan, Paonta Sahib, Sirmaur, measuring 122-08 bighas in favour of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni at Dhaulakuan for establishment of a regional horticulture research and training station for benefit of farmers.
It also gave consent to construct additional accommodation at Sundernagar Rest House in Mandi at a cost of Rs 3.90 crore to provide better boarding and lodging facilities to the employees and general public during official tours.
The cabinet also decided to extend special land acquisition unit at Nalagarh in Solan and engage staff on reemployment/ fixed emoluments basis for a period of one year from January 1, 2021 as the land acquisition work in the stretch of BaddiNalagarh road length of 18km under Project Director NHAI Shimla was being done by land acquisition collector, Nalagarh.
The cabinet also gave approval to the proposal to modify penalties, fines under Section 210A of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 as well as to specific authorities competent to compound offences under Section 200 of the Act.