Himachal Cabinet Greenlights Major Reforms: 1,386 water guards to be promoted, Govt to procure fruits at MSP
Babushahi Bureau
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), July 29, 2025: In a landmark move, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet led by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu approved a series of impactful decisions aimed at strengthening rural employment, enhancing disaster resilience, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and supporting horticulture and dairy sectors.
Key Highlights from the Cabinet Meeting:
1,386 Water Guards to be Appointed as Pump Attendants
The Cabinet approved the regular appointment of 1,386 Jal Rakshaks (Water Guards)—serving for 12 years or more by December 31, 2024—as Pump Attendants in the Jal Shakti Department.
Government to Procure Fruits at Fixed Rates Under MIS
Under the Mandi Intervention Scheme (MIS) 2025, the state will procure:
- Apples at ₹12/kg
- Kinnow, Malta, Orange (B & C grade) at ₹12/kg
- Galgal at ₹10/kg
- Mango varieties (Seedling, Kalmi, Kachha Achaari) at ₹12/kg
Disaster Preparedness: Structural Audits, Earthquake-Resistant Construction Mandated
Acting on the recommendations of a cabinet sub-committee, the government will:
- Conduct structural safety audits of buildings statewide
- Make earthquake-resistant construction mandatory
- Integrate disaster response agencies like Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services, and SDRF with the State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA)
Major Healthcare Upgrades Across Districts
- 18 chemotherapy day-care centers to be upgraded in district hospitals
- 50-bed Critical Care Block and Public Health Lab to be set up at Tegubehar Hospital (Kullu)
- Medical equipment to be supplied to hospitals in Manali, Solan, Paonta, Dehra, Reckong Peo, and Hamirpur
New RTO in Kangra
A new Regional Transport Office (RTO) will be opened in Dehra (Kangra district) with necessary staffing approved.
Milk Processing Infrastructure to Get a Boost
New milk processing plants will be established at Nahan, Nalagarh, Mohal, and Rohru, with a chilling centre at Jalari (Hamirpur) and a bulk milk cooler at Jhalera (Una). The Himachal Pradesh Milk Federation will adopt an ERP system to digitize operations and give farmers real-time access to relevant data.
Environment & Wildlife
The Cabinet approved the translocation of 325 trees for the development of the Durgesh-Aranya Zoological Park at Bankhandi in Kangra district.
Polytechnic Colleges
The Cabinet gave its nod for the rationalisation of teaching and non-teaching posts across government polytechnic colleges to improve efficiency.
These wide-ranging decisions reflect the state government’s commitment to rural upliftment, sustainable agriculture, robust disaster preparedness, improved healthcare, and digital transformation across public sectors.