Saurabh Chauhan is a correspondent reporting from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, covering Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Agriculture. Previously reported from Mohali (Punjab), Shimla (HP) and covered Political, Civil Admin, Finance beats.
Articles by Saurabh Chauhan
Shimla: Tatas offer to buy out state-owned Palace Hotel in Chail
The Tata group has evinced interest in investing in the state's hospitality sector and is said to have made an offer to purchase the Palace Hotel in Chail, which is owned by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.
Updated on Jun 19, 2015 08:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
State gets Rs 245 cr WB funding for fiscal management project
The Himachal government has secured US $40 million (about `245 crore) funding from the World Bank for a project on improving and consolidating public financial management. The project was floated to streamline management of financial activities and ensure stringent expenditure control measures in the wake of the government's worsening fiscal deficit.
Updated on Jun 16, 2015 08:52 PM IST
None | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
School heads callous towards poor Class-12 results: Govt
A month after the state education department issued a show-cause notice to school heads for poor Class-12 results, the department has pulled them up for not being worried about their performance, while directing all deputy directors to chair meetings of school heads in their respective districts.
Updated on Jun 14, 2015 09:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Bhabha hydel station fire: Electricity board seeks details of station's engineers since 2008
Days after a high-level committee constituted by the state government pointed out major safety lapses at the 120MW Sanjay Jalvidyut Pariyojana station that led to its devastation in a fire in January, the state electricity board has sought details of the superintending engineers (SEs) and executive engineers (XENs) posted at the station since 2008.
Updated on Jun 12, 2015 11:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Year after Beas tragedy, parents still battling for justice
A year after 24 students of a Hyderabad-based engineering college were swept away in the Beas at Thalaut in Mandi, their parents are still fighting for justice.
Updated on Jun 08, 2015 09:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
'Hydel development will make Chenab a dam-congested river'
Amid talks of river cleanliness across the country, environmentalists of the state have highlighted the ill-effects of hydropower development in Chenab basin.
Updated on Jun 07, 2015 10:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
BJP mustn't backtrack on Ram Mandir: VHP mouthpiece
The regional mouthpiece of women wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Durga Vahini has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre not to backtrack on the Ram Mandir issue.
Updated on Jun 04, 2015 10:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Nestlé’s Tahliwal unit comes under state govt’s scanner
With Swiss food giaammnt Nestle’s popular instant noodles Maggi coming under national scrutiny over high content of lead and mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), the state government has decided to look into the company’s unit at Tahliwal in Una district.
Updated on Jun 08, 2015 11:58 AM IST
Hindustantimes.com | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Not paid its Rs 7 crore share, HIMUDA to send legal notice to HPSIDC
Eyeing Rs 7 crore as 50% unearned increase from the lease of a prime chunk of land at Parwanoo, the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) is considering sending a legal notice to the HP Industrial Development Corporation (HPSIDC).
Updated on Jun 01, 2015 08:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Multipronged approach needed to combat tobacco use
At a time when the world is marking No Tobacco Day today (May 31), the Himachal Pradesh government, which declared the state “smoke free” in 2013, needs to adopt a multipronged strategy to keep young people away from tobacco addiction. Though it has announced several programmes to tackle the menace, including a ban on sale of loose cigarettes, increased VAT and anti-tobacco campaigns, during the past two years so far most of them have still to take off the ground.
Updated on May 31, 2015 07:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Govt okays 25% conditional quota for EWS kids in pvt schools
Four years after guidelines for implementing the Right to Education Act, 2009 in the state were framed, the Himachal government has approved a proposal to set aside 25% reservation for admission of children belonging to disadvantaged groups in private unaided schools. However, the government fixed a condition that children belonging to "economically weaker sections" (EWS) would be permitted to go to private schools as per the Act if there was no vacancy in state-run primary or middle schools.
Updated on May 28, 2015 09:20 PM IST
Hindustantimes.com | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Manali-Rohtang pass: Taxi operators now pin hopes on NGT to ease curbs
With taxi operators in Manali getting no relief from the Supreme Court, they are now pinning their hopes on the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to relax its directive limiting the entry of all diesel and petrol run tourist vehicles on the Manali-Rohtang Pass road to a thousand per day till August 14.
Updated on May 27, 2015 11:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
HP to take up shortfall in grain supply with Centre
The Himachal government said Wednesday it would take up the issue of shortfall in foodgrains supplied to the state under the National Food Security Act with the central government on May 29. It said only 15, 496 metric tonnes of grain have been supplied this year against a requirement of 18, 587 tonnes, and a gap of 3,091 tonnes.
Updated on May 27, 2015 08:49 PM IST
Hindustantimes.com | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Shimla coping with heavy traffic, water scarcity
At a time when there is heavy tourist influx, situation in the capital town is almost chaotic — traffic snarls have become order of the day, residents are facing water shortage and strike by sanitation workers has hit the garbage disposal.
Updated on May 27, 2015 10:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh: Govt sees revenue boost from uniform tax regime
The Himachal government anticipated a marked increase in revenues from the uniform tax structure, which other states and union territories in the region - Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh - have agreed to implement.
Updated on May 24, 2015 08:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh: Apple growers seek uniform packaging norms
After the widespread confusion on packaging standards that prevailed during the last crop season, orchardists are now seeking greater clarity regarding the norms. They want the government to familiarize them about the new packaging standards well before the season begins.
Updated on May 17, 2015 07:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
As enrolment takes plunge, HP may consider merger of primary schools
With enrolment in government schools taking a plunge, Himachal Pradesh is mulling merger of primary schools with minimal admissions in the state.
Updated on May 14, 2015 07:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Govt to crack down on unregistered hotels, guest houses
With the onset of the summer tourism season the Himachal government is getting ready to crack the whip on all unauthorized hotels and guest houses operating in the state that are eating into the revenues of state-run hotels. Over the years unregistered hotels and guest houses have mushroomed all over the state, especially in Kullu, Kangra and Solan districts.
Updated on May 13, 2015 07:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Fresh showers may hit harvesting of rabi crops
With over one-third of harvesting operations for rabi crops including wheat yet to be completed, the meteorological department's forecast of heavy rain during the next few days has caused anxiety among farmers in the state. This month the weather remained dry until Tuesday when several areas of the state were lashed with moderate rainfall.
Updated on May 12, 2015 09:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan
Amid ambiguity over funding pattern, loss of RS 3,900 cr looms large over state
Even as the central government is yet to come out with the final document on the restructured central sponsored schemes (CSS), hill state Himachal Pradesh, which is already bearing the brunt of cancelled special assistance, fears loss of another over `500 crore due to changed funding pattern for CSS.
Updated on May 11, 2015 10:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Poor Class-12 results: Education dept seeks explanation from school heads
Still indecisive over strict action, the state education department has sought explanation from heads of schools where pass percentage is below 50% in the Class-12 examination results announced on April 30.
Updated on May 09, 2015 08:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Goods and Services Tax bill: State govt keeping an eye on Cong’s stand in Rajya Sabha
Even as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill addresses several concerns of the state, the Congress-led state government is guardedly awaiting its fate in the Rajya Sabha.
Updated on May 08, 2015 07:24 PM IST
None | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Himachal: Government mulls action against poor performing schools
After failing twice earlier to fix accountability, the state education department is now considering taking action against government schools that have shown poor results in the class 12 examination results announced on April 30.
Updated on May 06, 2015 08:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
With prices more renumerative, cherry cultivation gaining ground
Even as stonefruit crops had to face vagaries of weather, cherries that have emerged as an alternative fruit crop in the apple growing areas of the state are fetching fairly high prices in markets both within and outside the state.
Updated on May 05, 2015 07:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
8500 applicants appear against six posts of peon in HC
With the rising unemployment in the state, the clamour for government jobs has increased manifolds. This could be seen for the posts of peon at the Himachal high court. About 8,500 applicants had applied for the half a dozen posts.
Updated on May 03, 2015 06:18 PM IST
None | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla:
Himachal: ASI to relocate submerged temples of old Bilaspur
To restore the lost glory of the ancient town of Bilaspur, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has suggested conducting a technicality feasibility study about the condition of ancient temples that are proposed to be relocated. In 1954, the town of Bilaspur along with several temples was submerged in the Gobind Sagar reservoir of the Bhakra Dam.
Updated on May 01, 2015 10:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh: Govt to discuss traffic issue on Wednesday's meeting
To get a respite from the road congestion that burdens drivers and commuters in the city, Himachal Pradesh government will now brainstorm over the ways to reduce vehicular snarl, in a meeting of committee of secretaries (COS) on Wednesday.
Updated on Apr 28, 2015 11:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Himachal: 100-workday condition relaxed for roadside plantation under NREGA
After the Union government’s nod, maximum 100-workday condition under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has been relaxed for roadside tree plantation activities in Himachal Pradesh.
Updated on Apr 26, 2015 10:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
WB aided project likely to address irrigation issues in Himachal
Realising the importance of irrigation facility to increase the productivity and quality of apples, World Bank (WB) aided project for horticulture will address the issue of irrigation infrastructure in orchards across the state.
Updated on Apr 25, 2015 10:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla
Co-opt civil society in fight against female foeticide: Report
NGOs campaigning against the growing menace of female foeticide on Friday made a strong pitch for including civil society actors in efforts to check sex determination tests that have been banned under the Preconception & Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994.
Updated on Apr 25, 2015 12:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla