Four Bills introduced in HP Vidhan Sabha

Shimla, Aug 27 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Virbhadra Singh today introduced the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Bill, 2007 in the State Assembly, aiming at restoring the sanctity of the Shimla Mall road by preventing its use as thoroughfare.

The Bill seeks to regulate vehicular traffic in the interest of public safety on the sealed and restricted roads of Shimla town in order to prevent annoyance and injury to pedestrians.

The objectives of the Bill stated that Shimla and its surrounding areas being major tourist attraction and, historically, the streets of Shimla including the famous Mall road have been developed on the assumption that they would be primarily used for pedestrian movement.

The Bill seeks to provide for the definition of sealed and restricted roads and the terms of grant of pass on payment of fees for plying vehicles on such roads on prescribed conditions.

A fund called ''The Shimla road users and pedestrians amenities fund'' is also proposed, in order to improve road safety for the pedestrians and vehicles. Clause 21 of the Bill seeks to empower the State Government to make rules for carrying out purpose of this Act.

The Chief Minister also introduced the Himachal Pradesh Police Bill, 2007, which seeks to create a professional, modern, efficient and citizen friendly police force with adequate capability to manage law and order as well as investigation of crime.

The Himachal Pradesh Lifts Bill, 2007 was also introduced in the House. It seeks to regulate the installation, maintenance and safe performance of lifts in the State. The Legislation takes care of various aspects of installation of lift, including its erection, licence, inspection and penalty for contravention etc. At present there are no regulations for lifts in the State.

Revenue minister Sat Mahajan introduced the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2007 in the House. The Bill states that considering the importance of District Planning Committee, it has been decided to empower the State Government to choose the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to be the member of the District Planning Committee and who shall also be its chairperson. In addition to this, the Deputy Commissioner may be made the Secretary of District Planning committee of the respective district.

UNI