Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi has ordered a strict crackdown on lagging infrastructure development under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded HPSHIVA project. During a high-level review meeting covering Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Solan, Sirmaur, and Una districts, the Minister instructed project officers to freeze all bill payments for contractors who fail to deploy adequate manpower, while confirming financial penalties have already been levied against two underperforming firms.
The project is making substantial headway in transforming rural orchards across the state’s sub-tropical regions. Under Phase-1, 2,612 hectares out of the targeted 3,000 hectares have already been prepped, spanning 331 finalized clusters designed to empower more than 10,600 farming families. Fruit plantation is actively expanding across 1,543 hectares, with an aggressive drive set to cover another 1,000 hectares during the ongoing monsoon season. The final stretch, dedicated to winter crops like plum and persimmon, will be completed by early 2027.
Expansion plans for Phase-2 are also moving swiftly. Over 2,500 hectares have been earmarked for the next stage, with field surveys currently underway across 2,153 hectares. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) covering 1,200 hectares have already been dispatched to the ADB for technical clearance, paving the way for the tendering process to kick off by late August.
Emphasizing that delays in vital civil works—such as solar fencing, land preparation, drip networks, and lift irrigation schemes—will not be tolerated, Minister Negi stressed that the government remains fully committed to delivering modern, high-tech horticultural infrastructure to local farmers without compromise.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
