Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses.
Articles by Gaurav Bisht
Sukhu announces panel to strengthen institution of MLAs, maintain their dignity
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said his government will work to strengthen the Vidhan Sabha secretariat and the committee will submit a report on how to maintain the dignity and respect of MLAs
Published on Mar 25, 2023 06:44 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Shinku La connecting Himachal’s Lahaul to Ladakh’s Zanskar reopens in record 55 days
On March 22, Border Roads Organisation personnel worked in double shifts under Project Yojak at 16,580 feet in minus 25 degrees Celsius to achieve daunting task of reopening the icy peaks of the pass
Published on Mar 24, 2023 02:33 PM IST
CM Sukhu blames BJP for Himachal’s ‘precarious’ fiscal health
Commotion in the House as members from both sides engage in a heated exchange; later opposition stages a walkout. Tearing into the opposition BJP on the issue of Himachal’s economy being in the “doldrums”, CM Sukhu claimed that the BJP government left state in a debt trap of ₹75,000 crore
Published on Mar 23, 2023 10:57 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal has every right to impose water cess: Mukesh Agnihotri
Himachal deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday said the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, does not prohibit the state to impose water cess on power generation for the use of water and there is no bar on imposition of water cess under Section 7 of this Act.
Published on Mar 22, 2023 11:06 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Uproar in Himachal assembly over closure of ‘Jan Manch’
The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes as the opposition BJP created a ruckus against the government’s move to discontinue ‘Jan Manch’, the flagship public grievances redressal programme of the previous government.
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 10:56 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP Vidhan Sabha session: Oppn walks out as ruling party members fail to arrive on time
The House was scheduled to reassemble at 2.20pm and Opposition members had reached on time, but members of the ruling party did not turn up even after 15 minutes had passed
Published on Mar 22, 2023 01:13 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal allocates ₹4,302 crore to women-oriented schemes, 82% more than last year
This constitutes 45.17% of the total development budget of ₹9,523.82 of the state and nearly 82% more than the previous year’s allocation
Published on Mar 20, 2023 01:37 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal government pulls the plug on 285 schools with zero enrolments
Himachal government had taken the decision to close down schools with zero enrolments and merge those with very low numbers with nearby institutions earlier this month
Published on Mar 18, 2023 01:09 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal: No new taxes as CM Sukhu presents ₹53,413-crore budget; bets big on green energy
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a slew of green energy schemes, aimed at promoting clean energy and reducing fossil fuel consumption in Himachal while presenting a ₹53,413 crore tax-free budget in the assembly. This includes subsidies for electric vehicles and solar power plants.
Published on Mar 17, 2023 11:16 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Thrust on green energy as Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu presents his maiden budget
The CM said the government intends to make Himachal a green energy state by March 31, 2026, and apart from hydropower, the focus will be on promoting alternative clean energy, including solar energy.
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 01:00 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh water cess may raise power tariffs in neighbouring states
The Himachal Pradesh government’s move to impose a water cess on hydropower projects will raise power tariffs by at least ₹1 per unit, which may be contested by states such as Punjab that buy the power
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 04:03 AM IST
Rajeev Jayaswal, Vishal Rambani & Gaurav Bisht
Himachal’s GDP growth pegged at 6.4% for FY23: Economic survey
The state’s real gross domestic product (GDP) or GDP at constant prices (2011-12) in the current FY is estimated to be ₹1,34,576 crire as against the provisional estimate of ₹1,26,433 Cr for FY 2021-22, registering a growth of ₹8,143 crore.
Published on Mar 17, 2023 12:10 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal assembly passes bill to levy water cess on hydropower projects
Once the governor gives his assent, the new law will be applicable to the existing 172 power projects and future projects in Himachal. The Bill was introduced in the House by deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on the first day of the budget session.
Published on Mar 16, 2023 06:46 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal Budget session: Govt, opposition spar as House discusses closure of institutions
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes after treasury and opposition members locked horns several times over the government’s decision to denotify more than 600 institutions and offices opened by the previous government on the 2nd day of budget session
Published on Mar 16, 2023 01:08 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Fiery start to Himachal budget session, BJP MLAs stage walkout
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Opposition bringing an adjournment motion notice was unfortunate and it should have instead sought a discussion on it
Published on Mar 14, 2023 11:03 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal: Congress MLA miffed over transfer of officers without his consent
“As discussed, I would like to apprise you that parliamentary elections are due next year, henceforth, you may kindly take serious note of my request for the present government,” Himachal Congress MLA Ravi Thakur wrote to Pratibha Singh.
Published on Mar 13, 2023 10:26 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Dry weather takes toll on rabi crops in HP, Hamirpur worst-hit
The total crop loss has been estimated at ₹94.62 crore so far in 10 out of 12 districts in the state, barring tribal areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, a spokesperson of the Himachal agriculture department said
Published on Mar 11, 2023 11:27 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal CM Sukhu to present general budget on March 17
The session will begin on Tuesday while chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu would present the budget in the assembly on March 17; there would be total 18 sittings during the session that ends on April 6
Updated on Mar 11, 2023 04:43 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Violence by Punjab tourists: Himachal HC notice to CS, DGP
Taking cognizance of violence at Manali, Manikaran and Bilaspur on March 6 and 7, Himachal Pradesh high court seeks status report from top officials on Monday
Published on Mar 10, 2023 04:52 PM IST
After large-scale repairs, three yajnas, Sukhu set to shift to Oakover — his official residence
As per the myths surrounding the place, the Himachal chief minister’s official residence is ‘jinxed’, which makes the chair of the political boss rattle midterm; previous records also show that the property does not allow the occupant to complete a full-term in office
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 06:32 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal: Five migrant workers run over, killed in Solan on Chandigarh-Shimla highway
Toyota Innova driver arrested as vehicle rams into divider near Dharampur after mowing down the labourers from Bihar and UP on their way to work
Updated on Mar 07, 2023 03:50 PM IST
Punjab tourists clash with locals in HP’s Manikaran, over 20 injured
More than eight vehicles bearing Punjab and Himachal Pradesh registration numbers besides seven houses and an ATM kiosk were damaged due to the stone pelting
Published on Mar 07, 2023 05:13 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP cabinet nod to implementation of old pension scheme from April 1
In a meeting presided by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Himachal cabinet gave its nod to the implementation of the old pension scheme, which would put a burden of ₹1,000 crore on the state exchequer
Published on Mar 04, 2023 03:26 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Will bring white paper on HP’s fiscal health in budget session: CM Sukhu
Blaming his predecessor Jai Ram Thakur for Himachal Pradesh’s poor fiscal health, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said his government will bring a white paper on state’s economic condition in the upcoming budget session
Published on Mar 03, 2023 12:59 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Himachal brings state public service commission under prevention of malpractices act
The Himachal government’s move is aimed at ensuring fair and transparent selection of candidates on merit and do away with malpractices
Published on Mar 02, 2023 03:06 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
BJP to knock at court’s door against appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries in Himachal
The Congress government’s move to chief parliamentary secretaries was seen as an efforts to strike power balance and not alienate leaders who could not be appointed in the council of ministers.
Updated on Mar 02, 2023 03:03 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP: Apple growers seek audience with CM Sukhu
The growers’ body had submitted a 20-point demand charter to the government on February 21. Representatives of different farm unions on Tuesday met in Shimla to draw strategies for resolving the issues being faced by farmers
Published on Mar 01, 2023 06:44 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP govt withdraws personal security officers of SDMs, downsizes CM’s fleet
HP chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the fiscal condition of the state is not good and the government wants to cut down the wasteful expenditure
Updated on Feb 28, 2023 05:05 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Punjab, HP police collaborate to knock drug smugglers out
Himachal Pradesh, once known for illegal cultivation of cannabis and its derivatives, is now being flooded with ‘chitta’ and pharmaceutical drugs, quite like its neighbouring state Punjab
Published on Feb 26, 2023 11:07 PM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Shimla ice-skating rink feels the heat of global warming
This season, the annual Fancy Dress Carnival, hosted at the rink around Christmas time, was also cancelled due to scanty snow. Besides, the national ice-skating championships also had to be shifted to Kaza and Leh due to erratic weather in the Queen of Hills. Shimla had last hosted a national ice-skating championship in 2002.
Published on Feb 25, 2023 02:24 AM IST
Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
