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Shailee Dogra

Articles by Shailee Dogra

Himachal: Tourists rerouting trips to hill stations; hotels witness increase in inquiries

Condemning the attack, adviser of Shimla hotels and tourism stakeholders association Anil Walia said that owing to the unfortunate incident the shift in tourists route was expected

Dharamshala hotel association president Ashwani Bamba said tourists who plan trips from April onwards usually make their arrangements well in advance, and these are typically family vacations. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 29, 2025 08:14 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra/ Dar Ovais, Shimla/ Dharamshala

Baira Siul Hydro Power Project: HC stays take over, issues notice on NHPC plea

180 MW Baira Siul Hydro Power Project is operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which had moved the high court challenging the state government’s move to reclaim the project.

Himachal Pradesh high court, as an interim relief to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has stayed the move of the state government to take over 180 MW Baira Siul Hydro Power Project. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 27, 2025 09:45 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Remote village in Chopal leads way with 2 plastic waste parks

Leading the way to promote recycling and sustainability, a remote village panchayat --- Gram panchayat Paudiya in Chopal, in span of six months, has constructed two parks --- Swami Vivekananda Panchvati Plastic Waste Park by using recyclable materials such as old tyres and plastic.

“Two plastic waste parks have been constructed in Chopal in just 6 months. Chopal has become the only block in Himachal Pradesh to build a park from plastic waste”, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Shimla Abhishek Verma, who had inaugurated the second park. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Apr 27, 2025 09:43 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

DCs, SPs in Himachal directed to ensure safety of Kashmiris in state

There were reports on social media about Kashmiri students being harassed in a private university in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the incident reportedly occurred at a rented accommodation, not on the campus

Himachal has a significant number of Kashmiri professionals, students in colleges, universities, labourers and vendors. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 25, 2025 08:54 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra/ Dar Ovais, Shimla/ Dharamshala

Under attack, Congress plans strategy to ‘expose BJP’s lies’

Under attack from the BJP, Himachal Pradesh Congress comes together to deliberate on preparing strategy to counter the BJP what they claimed a false narrative.

Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with Congress state chief Pratibha Singh and deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri in Shimla on Tuesday. (Deepak Sansta/ HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 23, 2025 06:10 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

National Herald case: Chargesheet against Sonia, Rahul sheer political vendetta: Gehlot

Gehlot held a press conference at the party headquarters Rajiv Bhawan in Shimla to talk about the National Herald case. Congress is holding press conferences in 57 cities across the country till April 27 in protest against ED filing chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot termed the filing of chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case as “sheer political vendetta”. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 23, 2025 05:48 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal: Rain keeping forest fires low this season, says chief conservator

Himachal typically records between 1,500 to 2,000 forest fire incidents annually during the fire season, which runs from April 15 to July 15 or until the monsoon sets in

The state forest department attributes this year’s delayed onset to improved weather conditions but remains cautious due to the state’s high forest coverage. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 21, 2025 10:57 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal govt to set up 8 Rajiv Gandhi day boarding schools across Shimla district

Deputy commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, said that land for the proposed schools has been selected in all eight constituencies and concerned departments are working to complete formalities

Each school will be built over 50 bighas of land and include modern facilities. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 11, 2025 09:16 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal: Power utility rebuts Mandi MP Kangana’s claims on inflated bills

HPSEBL managing director Sandeep Kumar said that the bill of ₹90,384, issued on March 22, 2025, included unpaid dues of ₹32,287 and covered electricity consumption for January and February 2025; the domestic connection is registered in Ranaut’s name and is located at her Simsa village property in Manali

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 10, 2025 07:50 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal HC pulls up state for delaying pay hike to court staff

The Himachal Pradesh govt was directed to give 20% increment to the employees of HC, failing compliance ACS will have to appear in person

The pay hike demand dates back to 2018, seeking parity with employees of the Punjab and Haryana high court and was initially allowed in January 2023. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 09, 2025 10:04 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal: HP govt plans to downgrade 85 schools with low enrolment

The Himachal Pradesh government in the last two years has closed/ merged 1,201 schools and de-notified 17 colleges

The move comes in response to a sharp and steady decline in student enrolment in government schools. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 09, 2025 10:02 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Congress’ ‘leniency’ led to Waqf boards flouting norms: Kangana

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, early on Friday after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following a debate that spanned more than 13 hours

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at a rally in Mandi on Saturday. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 06, 2025 06:38 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Former HP CM Virbhadra Singh’s statue to be unveiled at Shimla’s Ridge on June 23

In February 2024, the government declined a no-objection certificate (NOC) to install the six-ft-tall statue of the former CM on the Ridge, leading to Vikramaditya resigning from the state cabinet.

Nearly four years after his death, a statue of Virbhadra Singh, the six-time chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, will be installed at the Ridge in Shimla on his birth anniversary on June 23. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Apr 05, 2025 03:37 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra

Kangana ‘missing’ from Mandi, says Vikramaditya, MP hits back

Kangana said she had been ‘moving around’ in Mandi constituency and had distributed Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds

Himachal public works minister Vikramaditya Singh (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 04, 2025 08:36 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Revamp work on, Naggar Castle closed for two years

The castle houses a museum depicting Himachal’s arts and crafts like patoos, shawls, gudmas, nagaras, carpets, including figures of devis and devtas in traditional attire

Naggar Castle was built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu around 1460 AD and served as the residence of the rulers of Kullu for centuries. (Aqil Khan/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 03, 2025 09:04 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Extension in service only to be made in exceptional cases: Himachal HC

High court quashes re-employment to the post of animal husbandry dept director, says mere because recommendation from an elected representative does not justify the extension

Disposing of two petitions, the high court quashed re-employment to the post of animal husbandry department director. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 02, 2025 05:48 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Manikaran tragedy: A Maggi break that became last stop for 3 Hisar students

The three victims, Dhinta, Manish and Gulshan, were part of a group of 17 students from Haryana School of Digital Marketing (HSDM), a coaching institute in Hisar, who had come on a trip

Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur meets kin of locals injured in the Manikaran accident, on Monday. (Aqil Khan /HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Mar 31, 2025 10:26 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Sunil Rahar, Shimla/rohtak

HP yet to deposit ₹178 cr for Chandigarh-Baddi rail link, Rajya Sabha told

The project was sanctioned on a 50:50 cost-sharing between state government and the Union railways ministry

The ministry shared the information while responding to a question raised by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Indu Bala Goswami regarding proportion of the cost to be shared by the Centre and the state government for the Chandigarh-Baddi railway line. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 29, 2025 10:31 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Sukhu asks SPs to map drug users in Himachal by April 20

CM Sukhu was apprised during a high-level meeting to review the progress of the survey that no district had so far completed mapping of drug users at panchayat-level, the deadline for which was earlier set at March 15

Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Mar 29, 2025 10:28 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal: Residential complex of MLAs and employees of assembly unsafe

Metropole building is among 66 unsafe buildings in Shimla that include Library building on Scandal point, Annadale view building --- HP Assembly speaker’s residence at Chaura Maidan as well as police lines in Kaithu.

This was stated by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the assembly on Friday while urging the speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania not to allot accommodation to MLAs in Metropole. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 29, 2025 05:02 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Cash-strapped Himachal enhances salaries, allowances of MLAs

Despite fiscal challenges, Himachal Pradesh unanimously enhanced the salary and allowances of the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) between 18% and 27%.

Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill 2025 in the House on the last day of assembly’s budget session under supplementary agenda on Friday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 29, 2025 05:00 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Himachal govt to adopt zero-tolerance policy against drugs: CM Sukhu

Sukhusaid, “The government will take strict action within a month against the Himachal Pradesh government officials and employees found involved in drug smuggling”.

Himachal government officials and employees involved in drug smuggling will be punished within a month. This was stated by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Himachal Pradesh assembly on Thursday while announcing “to adopt zero tolerance policy” against drug abuse in the state. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 28, 2025 05:06 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

BJP protests ‘mafia raj’ under Sukhu-led Congress govt in Himachal

Party rally at Chaura Maidan near Vidhan Sabha throws traffic out of gear, inconveniencing commuters.

(From left) Shrikant Sharma, the BJP state in-charge, leader of opposition and former chief minister Jairam Thakur, Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Rajeev Bindal and party state co-incharge Sanjay Tandon at the protest against state government at Chaura Maidan in Shimla on Thursday. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 27, 2025 12:57 PM IST

ByShailee Dogra

HP govt tables bills to tackle drug menace, organised crime

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government introduced the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Bill, 2025, that provides higher punishment to government officials involved in the illicit trade and peddlers selling drugs to minors

Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addresses the assembly in Shimla on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 27, 2025 09:28 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Abetment to suicide case: HC denies pre-arrest bail to HPPCL director

Himachal HC says granting relief to application will have an ‘adverse impact’ on staffers’ ability to speak up against their superior

Police sought dismissal of the bail plea, apprehending that Desh Raj ‘may evade investigation if relief is granted’. Police submitted that Desh Raj had not reported to his office and was absconding. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 27, 2025 09:26 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

HP assembly budget session: BJP, Congress spar over mining lease

HP assembly speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, said “The facts that LoP had brought to notice he was referring to the question while CM referred to the discussion on budget. I will see the record of both the subjects and where ever correction is needed that will be done”

Raising the issue under point of order, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, accused Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government of misleading the House by presenting wrong facts. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 26, 2025 05:18 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

HP government to take over two Chamba hydel projects: CM Sukhu

Sukhu reiterated that state government will take back those hydel projects which do not accept the government’s conditions. “World over it is practice that after 40 years project is given back to the state,” said Sukhu

The CM also said that the previous governments of the state had given projects to NHPC forever on the condition of 12% royalty, which is wrong. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 26, 2025 05:04 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

₹600 cr paid for acquiring land for 63.5-km rail line in Himachal

The Bhanupalli-Bilaspur project, has been stuck for over 20 years and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has been targeting Congress government for delaying the project

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said that no money has been received by the state government from central government for land acquisition. (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 25, 2025 09:10 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

HP Assembly budget session: Cong, BJP trade barbs on law & order issue

While presenting the cut motion, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur said that the state government has left Himachal at the Bhagwan bhrose (mercy of God)

Lashing out at the BJP, chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “BJP is demanding a CBI investigation in the case of the death of engineer Vimal Negi for political gains”, (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 25, 2025 09:02 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra, Shimla

Plane with Himachal deputy CM, DGP makes emergency landing in Shimla

There were 44 passengers, including Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri and DGP Atul Verma, on board the ATR-42 Alliance Air aircraft when it faced a landing glitch at Jubbarhatti tabletop airport. All passengers safe.

The tabletop runway of the Jubbarhatti airport. Pilots struggled to decelerate after touchdown, forcing them to apply emergency brakes at the last moment.

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 25, 2025 08:50 AM IST

ByShailee Dogra

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Shailee Dogra

Condemning the attack, adviser of Shimla hotels and tourism stakeholders association Anil Walia said that owing to the unfortunate incident the shift in tourists route was expected

180 MW Baira Siul Hydro Power Project is operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which had moved the high court challenging the state government’s move to reclaim the project.

Leading the way to promote recycling and sustainability, a remote village panchayat --- Gram panchayat Paudiya in Chopal, in span of six months, has constructed two parks --- Swami Vivekananda Panchvati Plastic Waste Park by using recyclable materials such as old tyres and plastic.

There were reports on social media about Kashmiri students being harassed in a private university in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the incident reportedly occurred at a rented accommodation, not on the campus

Under attack from the BJP, Himachal Pradesh Congress comes together to deliberate on preparing strategy to counter the BJP what they claimed a false narrative.

Gehlot held a press conference at the party headquarters Rajiv Bhawan in Shimla to talk about the National Herald case. Congress is holding press conferences in 57 cities across the country till April 27 in protest against ED filing chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Himachal typically records between 1,500 to 2,000 forest fire incidents annually during the fire season, which runs from April 15 to July 15 or until the monsoon sets in

Deputy commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, said that land for the proposed schools has been selected in all eight constituencies and concerned departments are working to complete formalities

The Himachal Pradesh govt was directed to give 20% increment to the employees of HC, failing compliance ACS will have to appear in person

The Himachal Pradesh government in the last two years has closed/ merged 1,201 schools and de-notified 17 colleges

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, early on Friday after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following a debate that spanned more than 13 hours

In February 2024, the government declined a no-objection certificate (NOC) to install the six-ft-tall statue of the former CM on the Ridge, leading to Vikramaditya resigning from the state cabinet.

Kangana said she had been ‘moving around’ in Mandi constituency and had distributed Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds

The castle houses a museum depicting Himachal’s arts and crafts like patoos, shawls, gudmas, nagaras, carpets, including figures of devis and devtas in traditional attire

High court quashes re-employment to the post of animal husbandry dept director, says mere because recommendation from an elected representative does not justify the extension

The three victims, Dhinta, Manish and Gulshan, were part of a group of 17 students from Haryana School of Digital Marketing (HSDM), a coaching institute in Hisar, who had come on a trip

The project was sanctioned on a 50:50 cost-sharing between state government and the Union railways ministry

CM Sukhu was apprised during a high-level meeting to review the progress of the survey that no district had so far completed mapping of drug users at panchayat-level, the deadline for which was earlier set at March 15

Metropole building is among 66 unsafe buildings in Shimla that include Library building on Scandal point, Annadale view building --- HP Assembly speaker’s residence at Chaura Maidan as well as police lines in Kaithu.

Despite fiscal challenges, Himachal Pradesh unanimously enhanced the salary and allowances of the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) between 18% and 27%.

Sukhusaid, “The government will take strict action within a month against the Himachal Pradesh government officials and employees found involved in drug smuggling”.

Party rally at Chaura Maidan near Vidhan Sabha throws traffic out of gear, inconveniencing commuters.

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government introduced the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Bill, 2025, that provides higher punishment to government officials involved in the illicit trade and peddlers selling drugs to minors

Himachal HC says granting relief to application will have an ‘adverse impact’ on staffers’ ability to speak up against their superior

HP assembly speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, said “The facts that LoP had brought to notice he was referring to the question while CM referred to the discussion on budget. I will see the record of both the subjects and where ever correction is needed that will be done”

Sukhu reiterated that state government will take back those hydel projects which do not accept the government’s conditions. “World over it is practice that after 40 years project is given back to the state,” said Sukhu

The Bhanupalli-Bilaspur project, has been stuck for over 20 years and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has been targeting Congress government for delaying the project

While presenting the cut motion, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur said that the state government has left Himachal at the Bhagwan bhrose (mercy of God)

There were 44 passengers, including Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri and DGP Atul Verma, on board the ATR-42 Alliance Air aircraft when it faced a landing glitch at Jubbarhatti tabletop airport. All passengers safe.

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