HP Governor Launches Anti-drug Campaign from Rohru

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Governor Flags Off Anti-Drug Campaign from Rohru with Mass Student Rally

Rohru | June 16

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday kickstarted a large-scale anti-drug awareness campaign from Rohru in Shimla district, leading a massive rally of school students, Mahila Mandals, and Panchayati Raj representatives.

The rally, stretching from Rohru market to Raja Virbhadra Singh Government College Seema, saw participants carrying banners and slogans urging youth to stay away from drugs.

Addressing the public at the college grounds, the Governor said, “This campaign is not political—it's a pledge to save Himachal.”

He warned against the rising threat of drug abuse, calling on citizens to treat it as a social emergency.

“I am here not for politics but to protect our future. Drugs have no place in a state known for its culture, values, and spirituality,” he added.

Joined by Education Minister Rohit Thakur and MLA Mohan Lal Brakta, the Governor lauded the students’ participation as a sign of hope.

The campaign, he said, draws inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and complements the state's strict anti-drug laws passed in the Vidhan Sabha.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur stressed the need to keep youth engaged in agriculture and horticulture, especially in upper Shimla, warning that synthetic drugs threaten both society and the economy. “Only a drug-free youth can carry forward our state's future,” he said.

MLA Mohan Lal Brakta thanked the Governor for choosing Rohru to launch the initiative and promised full support in spreading the campaign message across his constituency.

The event featured a presentation by narcotics and public health expert Dr. Akil Sharma, cultural performances by students, and a vote of thanks by College Principal Lalita Rawat.

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New Delhi, Manekshaw Centre – In a rare and significant gathering of military minds, the Indian Army hosted “Chief’s Chintan” — an interaction between the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, and former Chiefs of the Army Staff (CsOAS), aimed at harnessing decades of strategic wisdom to steer the force into the future.

Held in the aftermath of the recently conducted Operation SINDOOR, the session focused on drawing lessons from joint operations and their long-term strategic ramifications.

The event took place at the iconic Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, symbolising continuity and resolve in India’s military leadership.

The highlight of the interaction was a comprehensive briefing on Operation SINDOOR, an exercise that has been lauded for its demonstration of jointness, interoperability, and precision.

General Dwivedi underscored the importance of collective reflection and innovation in evolving the Indian Army into a more agile, tech-driven, and future-ready force.

Former Chiefs brought to the table a range of perspectives — from organisational reforms to technology absorption — resonating with national visions like #AtmaNirbharBharat and #ViksitBharat.

Their contributions are expected to feed directly into policy and planning as the Army navigates the #DecadeofTransformation.

This unique initiative, under the theme of #YearofTechAbsorption, reaffirms the Indian Army's commitment to staying at the forefront of modern warfare by combining operational experience with visionary leadership.

The event also marked a rare alignment of institutional memory with forward-looking strategy, bridging the past and present to forge a stronger, self-reliant, and tech-savvy Indian Army.

#IndianArmy #COAS #OperationSINDOOR #DefenceLeadership

@DefenceMinIndia

@SpokespersonMoD

News

Himachal Contractors Threaten Gherao of Chief Secretary’s Office as Treasury Freeze Stalls Approved Payments

Contractors Threaten Gherao of Chief Secretary’s Office as Treasury Freeze Stalls Approved Payments

Call it ‘financial emergency’; allege illegal control over state funds by Finance Department

Mandi/Shimla, June 17:

Tempers are flaring in Himachal Pradesh as contractors across the state have threatened to gherao the Chief Secretary’s office, accusing the Finance Department of illegally freezing the Treasury and withholding approved payments.

They allege that despite budget allocations being cleared for the current financial year, the department is deliberately blocking funds — pushing contractors, suppliers, and development projects to the brink.

“The government’s own approved budget is lying locked in the treasury, but payments are being stalled without any official order.

This is nothing short of a financial emergency,” said Keshav Naik, president of the Contractor Welfare Association, Himachal Pradesh, warning of a statewide economic shutdown if payments aren’t released immediately.

According to Naik, Treasury Officers across districts have received verbal orders not to clear bills, despite departments submitting all required paperwork in time.

He said many contractors are now staring at loan defaults and NPA notices as payments for completed government projects remain stuck for months.

“The Finance Department is no longer a facilitator; it’s behaving like a controller. It has violated the sanctity of the Treasury and undermined the state legislature’s authority,” Naik alleged.

What’s Going Wrong:

Crores of rupees sanctioned in the 2024–25 budget are lying unspent due to an unofficial freeze.

Bills passed by various departments have not been cleared for payment.

Several ongoing and completed public projects are held up due to cash flow disruption.

Contractors, suppliers, and even departmental officers are facing financial uncertainty.

They say this violates the basic principles of fiscal discipline. Under normal circumstances, once the Assembly approves a budget, the Finance Department’s role is to ensure timely release — not to block it unilaterally.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the state’s financial health, with many asking:

Has Himachal Pradesh slipped into a silent financial crisis — one the government refuses to admit?

As the deadlock continues, trade associations, contractor unions, and suppliers are rallying for action.

If the Treasury blockade is not lifted within days, they plan to shut down economic activity across the state and lay siege to the top bureaucratic office.

#TreasuryFreeze #HimachalContractorsProtest #FinanceDepartmentRow

News

HP Court Grants Pension Relief to a 83-Year-Old Woman after 26 years of Delay

Shimla — In a judgment offering hope to senior citizens fighting for long-denied rights, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled in favour of an 83-year-old petitioner, allowing her claim for family pension that was pending since 1999.

The court quashed the impugned order dated August 17, 1999, and directed the concerned authorities to consider her application under Rule 50(10) of the Pension Rules, which entitles parents to family pension after the remarriage of a widow.

Despite a delay of over two decades, the High Court found merit in the petition, citing the principle of "continuing wrong" — an exception to the rule that normally rejects delayed service-related claims.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, who authored the judgment, observed that in pension-related matters, where no third-party rights are disturbed, relief may be granted even after a long delay.

The court, however, restricted the arrears of pension to three years preceding the filing of the writ petition, following well-established jurisprudence that allows recovery of dues only for a limited past period in cases of recurring wrongs.

In another connected ruling, the Court held that a termination, in essence a voluntary retirement under Rule 31 of the 1995 Pension Rules, also qualifies for pension benefits.

The appellant, in that case, has been given the option to refund the provident fund contributions with interest or get the amount adjusted against the pension arrears, which must be paid within a month.

Taking note of the petitioner’s advanced age and prolonged struggle for justice, the court instructed the respondents to expedite the decision-making process within six weeks, ensuring a fair hearing.

The authorities are also required to file compliance by July 22, 2025.

This judgment comes as a ray of hope for many senior citizens across the state still waiting for resolution of their long-pending pension disputes.

#SeniorCitizensJustice #PensionRights #HighCourtRelief

News

SJVN Sounds Alert as Satluj River Surges in Himachal

Shimla, June 17, 2025:

With water levels rising steadily in the Satluj River, SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) has begun releasing surplus water from the Nathpa Dam to manage the increasing inflow. This move comes as part of precautionary measures during the ongoing monsoon season.

Why the Warning?

The water level at Nathpa Dam is now close to its maximum limit — hovering around 1,493 meters.

To avoid any overflow or risk to the dam structure, engineers have opened gates to release excess water into the river.

SJVN’s Appeal to the Public

Stay away from the riverbanks. Sudden surges in water flow can be dangerous.

Maintain a safe distance. Especially in low-lying areas near the Satluj.

Don’t take chances. The flow of the river is unpredictable at the moment.

Nathpa-Jhakri is a major hydropower station on the Satluj River, generating 1,500 MW of electricity.

Every year, glacier melt and rains lead to increased water flow into the dam, making controlled releases necessary.

In the past, sudden water discharges from Himalayan dams have caused tragic accidents — so this time, the release is being handled with extra caution.

Official Word

“Due to rising inflows, extra water is being discharged from Nathpa Dam. We request all citizens to avoid going near the Satluj River and maintain proper distance for their safety.”

— Public advisory by SJVN, Nathpa-Jhakri Project

What You Should Do

Avoid walking, fishing, or grazing animals near the river.

Spread the message to people living or working along the Satluj.

Keep following alerts from local administration and SJVN’s official platforms.

News

Shimla Gets Rainfall, MET Warns of Heavy Showers

Shimla soaked in heavy rain; Met department warns of more showers — Farmers, tourists told to stay alert in Himachal

Shimla, June 17: The Queen of Hills woke up to heavy rain Tuesday morning, with the IMD recording 42.7 mm of rainfall in Shimla by 8:30 am.

And that's just the start — the Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert for more showers across Himachal Pradesh over the next 24 to 48 hours, urging farmers and tourists to stay cautious.

According to the latest bulletin from the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, upper air cyclonic circulations over Punjab and adjoining areas, combined with a Western Disturbance active north of latitude 26°N, are likely to trigger widespread rainfall, especially in central and western parts of the state.

Besides Shimla, significant rainfall was recorded at:

Una – 52 mm

Kasauli – 52 mm

Bilaspur – 38.6 mm

Solan – 13.2 mm

Palampur – 14.2 mm

Manali – 20 mm

Bhuntar – 24.8 mm

Kufri – 18 mm

Seobagh – 18 mm

Sarahan – 25.5 mm

The lowest minimum temperature in the state was recorded at Kukumseri (8.9°C), while Hamirpur sizzled at 38.2°C, the highest maximum temperature, reflecting the wide variation in conditions across the state.

Farmers are advised to:

Avoid spraying pesticides or fertilizers during this period, as expected rainfall may wash them away.

Ensure drainage in fields to prevent waterlogging.

Secure harvested crops stored in the open.

Tourists and trekkers, especially those heading to Kullu-Manali, Lahaul-Spiti, Dalhousie, and higher reaches like Kufri and Sarahan, are urged to check weather forecasts regularly and avoid riverbanks and landslide-prone zones.

While no snowfall has been reported from any station, visibility and road conditions in the upper hills may deteriorate quickly due to moderate to heavy rainfall.

The IMD has categorized today’s rainfall in Shimla, Una, Kasauli, and Bilaspur as moderate, with more showers likely by evening.

Any further escalation in rainfall could push some pockets into the heavy rainfall category (64.5–115.5 mm), which may trigger flash floods or landslides, particularly in Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, and Solan districts.

Stay tuned to official IMD handles on Twitter and Facebook for live updates.

Note to locals and visitors: Don’t take mountain weather lightly — plan your routes carefully and heed all advisory warnings.

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HP Governor Launches Anti-drug Campaign from Rohru

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