Latest news with #PrabodhSaxena
Time of India
7 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
HP flash floods: Central team meets chief secy Saxena
1 2 Shimla: A multi-sectoral central team met chief secretary Prabodh Saxena here on Thursday in its ongoing exercise to examine the root causes of the increasing trend of natural disasters in the Himalayan state in recent years. Saxena apprised the central team, led by advisor (operations and communication) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Colonel KP Singh (retd), that the state experienced a rise in the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, and torrential rainfall events. These disasters resulted in widespread loss of life, damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and environmental degradation. The chief secretary stated that new challenges emerged in recent years due to the increased frequency, scale, intensity, and impact of disasters such as cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. These events have long-lasting effects on the victims' lives, social structures, and overall development. The central team, tasked with investigating the rising trend of disasters in the state to determine their root causes and recommend remedial measures, comprises chief scientist SK Negi from CSIR-CBRI Roorkee, geologist professor Arun Kumar from the University of Manipur, research scientist Dr Susmita Joseph from IITM Pune, and Professor Neelima Satyam from the department of civil engineering at IIT Indore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo Saxena emphasised that hilly states face unique and significant challenges in managing disasters, relief efforts, and rehabilitation. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the root causes of these disasters to minimise their occurrence and prepare effectively for such challenges. The multi-sectoral team, after completing their final assessment, is expected to submit its report within one week to the disaster management division of the ministry of home affairs.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Meetings with central team: HP seeks flood forecasting unit, revised disaster relief norms
Amid growing concern over the escalating frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) K K Pant Thursday held back-to-back meetings with a multi-sectoral central team (MSCT) to discuss disaster trends, their root causes, and long-term mitigation strategies. The central team, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, is tasked with examining the rising trend of natural calamities such as cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in the state, and to suggest scientifically backed remedial measures to both the state and central governments. The team is led by Col K P Singh, Advisor (Operations & Communications), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and comprises Dr S K Negi (CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee), Prof Arun Kumar (retd geologist, Manipur University), Dr Neelima Satyam (IIT Indore), and Dr Susmita Joseph (IITM Pune). During the meeting, the Chief Secretary apprised the team of the alarming rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Himachal Pradesh over the past few years. He noted that the state has faced extensive damage to life, infrastructure, and the environment, with climate change emerging as a key underlying factor. 'Hilly states face unique challenges in disaster preparedness, response, and rehabilitation. It is, therefore, crucial to understand the root causes behind these disasters so we can develop targeted and effective mitigation strategies,' Saxena said. In a separate meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Pant echoed these concerns and called for a revision of national norms governing disaster relief and rehabilitation to suit the specific topographical and climatic conditions of Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh. He emphasised the importance of pre-disaster planning over post-disaster relief and called for the installation of advanced sensors and monitoring systems. Pant also underlined the need to establish a dedicated flood forecasting unit in Himachal with support from the Central Water Commission (CWC), and advocated for detailed glacial lake studies and real-time hydrological monitoring. Special Secretary (Revenue-Disaster Management) D C Rana gave a comprehensive presentation, revealing that since 2018, the state has recorded 148 cloudbursts, 294 flash floods, and over 5,000 landslides. He informed the team that the estimated losses due to natural disasters in 2023 alone stood at nearly ₹10,000 crore while the state continues to incur annual damage between ₹1,000 and ₹ 2,000 crore. Experts from the DGRE-DRDO and Geological Survey of India (GSI) also participated, with the MSCT urging both institutions to intensify data-sharing and conduct focused studies on high-altitude hazards, sudden floods, and landslide vulnerability. The MSCT will conduct field visits and is expected to submit its final assessment report within a week to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
India Gazette
15-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
CM Sukhu meets Civil Aviation Minister, discusses strengthening air connectivity to Himachal
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 15 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi and held detailed discussions about strengthening air connectivity in the state. The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to operate Delhi-Shimla-Dharamshala and Dharamshala-Shimla-Delhi flights on a daily basis, highlighting that at present, these flights were operational only three days a week, causing inconvenience to the tourists. He also requested the commencement of night landing facilities at Dharamshala airport. Sukhu apprised the Union Minister about the status of the Kangra airport expansion and sought special assistance for the land acquisition process, citing its high cost. He mentioned that the issue had also been raised with the Prime Minister during a previous meeting and sought the continued support of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, emphasising that this would accelerate the region's development. The Chief Minister also requested the construction of four new heliports to strengthen air connectivity further and boost tourism in the state. Discussions were also held regarding the expansion of Shimla airport. The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to extend the operational watch hours beyond 1 p.m. at Shimla airport and also proposed the operation of Dornier-type aircraft at Shimla, following the example of the northeastern states. He emphasized the need to encourage additional operators to start flight services to Shimla. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Principal Resident Commissioner Sushil Kumar Singla and senior officers of the Ministry of Civil Aviation were also present during the meeting. Earlier, Sukhu called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and apprised her of the financial situation of the state, and called for increasing the state's borrowing limit. He informed about the massive losses incurred due to recent heavy rains and flash-floods in the state and urged the Centre to provide assistance to the state, an official release said. He also held detailed discussions about issues concerning the Ministry. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, Ram Subhag Singh, accompanied the Chief Minister. (ANI)
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Himachal HC imposes penalty for delay in RERA appointment
SHIMLA : The Himachal Pradesh High Court came down heavily on the state government on Friday for its failure to act on two major administrative concerns the delay in appointments to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the controversial six-month extension granted to Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena , despite a pending CBI charge sheet against him. "The government is playing hide and seek, Himachal High Court remarked as the court pulls up the state for defiance, seeking notification by June 25. In a strong rebuke during the resumed hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the division bench of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma imposed a penalty (Cost Amount in orders later) on the state government, directing that the amount be deposited with the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association by June 25. "The government is playing hide and seek first, citing the relocation of RERA headquarters to Dharamshala, and now delaying appointments under the pretext of procedural issues," the bench remarked, expressing its frustration with what it termed a deliberate attempt to stall justice. The court also said that despite a query on May 9 regarding whether the appointments had been notified, the government had taken no concrete action. The bench termed the state's conduct as "administrative apathy" and said the explanation submitted by the government was "unsatisfactory." The court directed the state to issue the notification for the posts of Chairman and Member of RERA by June 25, warning, "If the notification for appointment of the Chairman and Member is not issued by June 25, it shall be deemed a deliberate obstruction of justice," the Court said. The state government, during Friday's proceedings, submitted that one member of RERA had been appointed, and the appointments of the Chairman and another member were still under process. The bench rejected this argument, saying that such repeated excuses were unacceptable. The PIL has been filed by Atul Sharma, who has also challenged the March 28, 2025 order of the state government extending Prabodh Saxena's tenure as Chief Secretary by six months, even though he is an accused in a corruption case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petitioner informed the court that a CBI chargesheet against Saxena was acknowledged by the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi, on October 21, 2019, and the CBI reaffirmed the pendency of the case in a letter dated January 23, 2025. Sharma argued that the extension granted to Saxena violates the Central Civil Services Rules and guidelines of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which do not permit vigilance clearance to officers facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The PIL noted that Saxena had already been chargesheeted in the infamous INX Media scam, where former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are also named accused. The petition further stated that on September 30, 2022, Saxena was granted an exemption from personal appearance in the case. Between April 2008 and July 2010, Saxena had served as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), which included the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) the body responsible for approving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals during the period in question. The High Court had earlier, on May 9, sought a detailed affidavit from the state government explaining the "specific reasons" for not notifying the recommendations of the Selection Committee for RERA appointments. The bench had said, "Keeping in view the larger public interest, if the appointment has not been notified, an affidavit be filed as to why it has not been done and what is the specific reason that the state has withheld the recommendations of the Selection Committee," the court directs. The court clarified on Friday that interim relief against Saxena's extension will be considered in the next hearing on June 25. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur also lashed out at the state government during a press conference in Shimla, saying: "The Himachal Pradesh government stands totally exposed... be it appointments to RERA, the police recruitment scam, or the nursery teacher training selections. Even in the RERA matter, the selection committee sent its recommendation, but the government did not act. Now, the High Court has imposed a Rs 5 lakh cost this has never happened before. The government is answerable to the people for this level of administrative failure."
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Centre flags ethanol levy as threat to green fuel mission, urges Punjab, Haryana, Himachal to reconsider fees
CHANDIGARH: The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has written to the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, urging them to reconsider the fee levied on ethanol production in their respective excise policies, warning that the move may hamper the ethanol blending programme and escalate fuel prices. The ministry, in its letters to these state governments, stated that the provision to levy a Regulatory Fee (Ethanol Permit/Pass) in their excise policies could restrict the free movement of ethanol within and outside the states. This, it noted, would ultimately increase the cost of ethanol-blended petrol. The letters were addressed individually by Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Parveen M Khanooja. The letter to Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena was sent on March 27, followed by a letter to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha on April 8, and another to Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on May 23. This newspaper has copies of all three letters. Interestingly, of the three states, Punjab has an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Himachal Pradesh is governed by the Congress, while Haryana is ruled by the BJP. 'It has been brought to the ministry's notice by oil marketing companies (OMCs) that as per the excise policy 2025–27 of Haryana state, there is a substantial increase in the licence fee/annual renewal fee for distilleries. Also, the aforesaid policy has introduced a fee of Rs 1 per bulk litre (BL) for issuance of pass for ethanol for mixing in petrol for use as automobile fuel." "Additionally, an import duty of Rs 1.20 per bulk litre has also been levied. Given that ethanol is already subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST), imposing an additional excise duty would constitute double taxation, which runs contrary to sound taxation principles and could be legally untenable, especially for a production crucial to a national programme like the ethanol blended petrol programme. "Furthermore, the increased costs resulting from the proposed fees and duty in excise policy 2025–27 are likely to raise the price of ethanol-blended petrol. Haryana and Punjab appear to be the sole states where such levies on ethanol specifically meant for blending with petrol have been imposed,' states the letter written to Rastogi by Khanooja.
