HP cabinet creates parliamentary secretaries posts

Shimla, Feb 6 (UNI) Decks have been cleared for the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs) and Parliamentary Secretaries (PSs) in Himachal Pradesh with the Cabinet today approving the creation of eight CPSs and four CPs posts in the state, official sources said.

The Cabinet, which met under the Chairmanship of State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, approved the creation of CPSs and PSs posts in the state to ''streamline the functioning of the government,'' they said.

The sources said the meeting also adopted the retention policy for the entire state but said this would only be implemented in the Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) areas.

All illegal constructions in the state up to June 30, last year, would be regularised up to five storeys, irrespective of the number of storeys above the road, they said.

However, buildings on the valley side would not be allowed to raise their height above 1.5 metre above the road with 45 per cent slanting roofs.

The sources said the Cabinet increased the time period for filing of applications for regularisation of these buildings up to February 28 and they would be disposed by March 31, this year.

It also decided to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel from Rs four and Rs two to Rs two and Rs one respectively after their prices had been reduced by Rs two and Re one recently, besides approving 12.5 per cent VAT on resin, kahir, eucalyptus and poplar trees, the sources said.

The Cabinet also accorded sanction for the filling up of a total of 1,168 posts of various categories in different government departments of which 900 were in Home Guards, 175 in Assistant Sub Inspectors, besides 40 Radiographers.

The sources said 23 posts in Central Testing Laboratory at Kandaghat, 13 posts in different categories in state Commission and district forums, 11 posts of drivers and six abolished posts of Assistant Town Planners were also sanctioned to be filled up.

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