Himachal to bar new ethanol plants, restrict power-intensive, hazardous industries

Source The Times Of India

Posted on August 28, 2026

Himachal Pradesh will not permit new ethanol plants due to concerns over high water and power consumption and pollution risks. The government also plans to restrict power-intensive and hazardous industries while examining pollution concerns linked to a solid waste management plant.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh govt will not permit new ethanol plants and plans to restrict industries that consume large amounts of electricity or generate hazardous waste, industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan told the assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a calling-attention motion by Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa on air and water pollution, Chauhan said ethanol plants could consume 5-10 lakh litres of water a day and pose risks of air, water and groundwater pollution. He said steel reinforcement bar units set up after the Centre’s industrial package consume 50 MW to 100 MW each, while the state does not have enough electricity to support such units.

Bawa also raised objections by Majra panchayat to extending the lease of the Shivalik Solid Waste Management Plant, which treats hazardous waste on 191 bighas. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania directed the state pollution control board to inspect the plant and check pollution. Chauhan said the govt was examining the matter seriously.

Raksha Bandhan holiday

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced Friday as a gazetted holiday for Raksha Bandhan for all govt employees, including men, except those in essential services. Until now, the holiday was available only to women.

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said women would travel free on HRTC buses within Himachal on Raksha Bandhan.

Sukhu also said rules would soon be framed to keep workplace harassment complaints confidential.

Speed limit on four-lane highways

Sukhu said the speed limit on four-lane highways would be raised from 60 kmph to over 70 kmph, subject to a safety survey by the transport department. He opposed new central rules requiring states to bear land acquisition costs for four-lane projects, saying that if states paid for land they should be allowed to build the roads and collect tolls.

Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur raised toll charges for locals at Dohlunala and the condition of the Kullu-Manali highway. Sukhu said the issues would be taken up with Union minister Nitin Gadkari, including a demand for toll passes for local residents.

Himachal to proceed with lottery relaunch

Despite BJP opposition, Chauhan said the govt would proceed with its cabinet-approved plan to relaunch a legal, regulated lottery modelled on Kerala, Punjab and Assam. Revenue is expected to start at around Rs 10 crore a year and eventually reach Rs 100-150 crore. He said single-line and single-digit lotteries would not be introduced to limit gambling addiction.

House mourns Nepal flood deaths

The assembly observed a two-minute silence for victims of the Nepal floods. Sukhu said nearly 133 Indian citizens had been reported missing, although the state had received no official information about anyone from Himachal among them.

He expressed concern over the increasing frequency of cloudbursts, flash floods and glacial lake-related events in the Himalayan region, linking the trend to climate change.

Relief for taxi operators

Agnihotri said the state had asked the Centre to extend the permitted life of contract carriage taxis from 12 to 15 years, on the lines of All India Tourist Permit taxis. Until a decision is taken, taxis older than 12 years operating within Himachal will not be challaned, he said.

The govt has also sought permission for manual vehicle testing until all automated testing stations are operational and reduction of the Rs 20,000 AITP fee.

248 road-accident death cases await relief

Revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi said 248 road-accident death cases were pending for relief as of July 31. Families of victims are eligible for Rs 4 lakh under SDRF or NDRF norms.

Shimla accounted for the highest number of pending cases at 88, followed by Chamba with 46 and Sirmaur with 29.

Assembly passes two resolutionsThe assembly passed resolutions seeking measures to address the social and environmental impact of hydropower projects and urging the Centre to raise assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3.63 lakh, citing Himachal’s difficult terrain and higher construction costs.

7.59cr tourists visited Himachal in three years

Sukhu said 7.59 crore tourists visited Himachal in the three years up to Aug 1, including more than 2.64 lakh foreign tourists. Domestic and foreign arrivals totalled 1.60 crore in 2023, 1.81 crore in 2024, 3.11 crore in 2025 and 1.06 crore up to Aug 1 this year.

80%-complete projects will not be abandoned

Sukhu assured the assembly that development projects that are at least 80% complete will not be abandoned. The govt has earmarked Rs 500 crore in the budget to fund and complete such projects.