HP Cabinet approves massive relief package: Rs 7 lakh for destroyed houses, boosts compensation for shops, livestock, crops

Shashi Bhushan Purohit 

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), July 28, 2025: In the State Cabinet meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, it was decided to provide a special relief package for the disaster-affected families in the state.

Under this package, the assistance amount of Rs 1.30 lakh given for a completely damaged house has been increased to Rs 7 lakh. The amount of Rs 12,500 for a partially damaged house has been increased to Rs one lakh. Similarly, the amount of Rs 10,000 given for a damaged shop or dhaba has also been increased to Rs 1 lakh.

In case of damage to the Gaushala, now Rs 50,000 will be given instead of Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 will be given to the tenants for loss of goods and Rs 70,000 to the house owner.

Now compensation will be given at the rate of Rs 55,000 per animal instead of Rs 37,500 for the loss of large milch animals, while the amount given for the loss of goat, pig, sheep and lamb has been increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 9,000 per animal.

An assistance of Rs 25,000 will be given for a completely damaged polyhouse and Rs 50,000 for removing silt from the house. Compensation for loss of agricultural and horticultural land has been increased from Rs 3,900 per bigha to Rs 10,000 per bigha.

Assistance for desilting has been increased from Rs 1,500 per bigha to Rs 6,000 per bigha. Compensation for crop loss has been increased from Rs 500 per bigha to Rs 3,000 per bigha.

The Cabinet expressed deep condolences on the loss of lives due to the recent disaster in the state. The Cabinet expressed condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with the affected people in this difficult time.

The Cabinet expressed gratitude to NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army, State Police, Home Guards, voluntary organizations and other individuals for their valuable support in relief and rehabilitation work. A detailed presentation on the disaster and measures to deal with it was also given in the meeting.

The Cabinet strongly condemned the incident of indecency with the Revenue Minister and disrespect to the National Flag by some anti-social elements in Seraj area of Mandi district. The Cabinet appealed to the general public to contribute generously to the Disaster Relief Fund so that the affected families can be helped.

The meeting approved the 'Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana', which aims to strengthen the conservation and development of forests through a community-based approach.

This scheme will be implemented in the state in five years at a cost of Rs 100 crore. In this, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self Help Groups and other registered community groups will be involved in afforestation activities. Each group will get assistance of up to Rs 1.20 lakh for plantation per hectare. 

If the land is less than one hectare, the assistance will be given proportionately. An additional incentive of Rs 1.20 lakh per hectare will also be given based on the survival rate of plants.

Amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Election Rules, 2015 were approved in the meeting, so that practical difficulties faced during elections could be removed.

A standard format has been implemented for the final publication of wards in Rule-9. Rules 27 and 28 have been amended and a provision has been added that no changes will be made in the voter list after the election program is notified under Rule-35.

Besides, by amending Rule-35(3), the power to notify the election schedule has now been given to the State Election Commission instead of the Deputy Commissioner.

The Commission will issue the notification at least seven days before the last date of filing nomination papers. By amending Rule-88, the nominated members have been allowed to take the oath of the Constitution along with the elected members.The Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to increase the seats in B.Sc. Laboratory Technique, B.Sc. Radiology and Imaging and B.Sc.

Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre courses. It has been decided to increase the number of seats in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla from 10 to 50 and in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda from 18 to 50. 

In the meeting, approval was given to allot land in favour of Himachal Pradesh Milkfed for setting up a milk processing plant at Menhdali in Rohru tehsil of Shimla district.

The Cabinet has approved 50 per cent rebate in motor vehicle tax to owners of vehicles falling in pre-BIS, BS-I and BS-II emission standards who scrap their vehicles through registered vehicle scrapping facility.

To improve patient care, the Cabinet gave its approval for creation and filling of eight posts of various categories in Pain & Palliative Care Cell, Department of Radiotherapy, IGMC Shimla. 

In the meeting, it was decided to upgrade Dhaneta Primary Health Center of Hamirpur district to Community Health Center. Along with this, approval was also given to create and fill the necessary posts for its effective operation.

It was also decided to open a new police post at Khaira under Police Station Sunni in Shimla district and to create and fill the required posts for its smooth functioning.

With a view to improving administrative efficiency and police system, the Cabinet decided to shift the jurisdiction of Police Post Hatli from Police Station Chuwadi to Police Station Sihunta in District Chamba. 

In the meeting, approval was given to reorganization of Ratti-Nagchala special area and Nerchowk planning area in district Mandi. The cabinet decided to upgrade Nagar Panchayat Jawali to Nagar Parishad in district Kangra.

The meeting decided to reclassify Municipal Council Sunni in District Shimla as Nagar Panchayat and also approved exclusion of certain areas from its jurisdiction. 

For the convenience of the local people, the Cabinet decided to shift the jurisdiction of the newly opened Sub-Tehsil Loharghat in District Solan from Sub-Division Arki to Sub-Division Nalagarh.

In the meeting, as per the recommendation of the State Sentence Review Board, premature release of 15 prisoners was also approved. Provided their conduct after release remains satisfactory. Such a decision has been taken for the first time in the state. (SBP)