HP Cabinet approves new fertilizer policy

Shimla, Apr 22 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved the state's new Fertilizer Policy for this fiscal and made a provision of Rs. 4.28 crore for transporting fertilizers from the government godowns to the sale points in the state, official sources said.

The policy would encourage farmers to make maximum use of the fertilizers at par with the national norm of 97 kgs per hectare as against 41 kgs per hectare in the State.

The sources said the Cabinet meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here, also approved an amendment to the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Himachal Pradesh, Rules, 1973.

With the amendment, people employed under fixed term employment would have fixed working hours, wages, allowances and other benefits at par with other permanent staff.

The sources said it also called for adopting protective measures to prevent sexual harassment to women workers at work places.

The Cabinet decided to include the tyre re-treading industry in the list of incentives for the purpose of sales tax benefits as announced by the State Government vide Incentive Rules 1991, 1996 and 1999, the sources said.

It also decided to waive off the sales tax demand due from the tyre re-treading units as one time measure.

The sources said the Cabinet also approved the establishment of Government Engineering College at Sundernagar in Mandi district, beginning with a Mechanical Degree course from July this year.

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