Shimla, Feb 27 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved an amendment in the Hydro-power Policy and decided to reserve hydro-power projects up to two MW exclusively for Himachalis and give preference to them in three to five MW projects, official sources said.

The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here last evening, also decided to give additional preference to people of the district where the project was being set up.

Sources said the Cabinet has approved the state government's equity participation in the Solution Mining and Caustic Soda Products at Maigal in Mandi district.

The project was likely to cost Rs 270 crore and provide employment to 220 people and would be executed by the Hindustan Salt Mines Limited, the sources said.

The Himachal Government would provide 105.06 bigha of land in lieu of five per cent equity participation besides an amount of Rs 43.55 lakh.

The sources said provided the land was not utilised for the specified purpose within the next two years, it would be reverted back to the state government.

The meeting approved relaxation in the Town and Country Planning norms for preparation of maps for the construction of four-storey parking lots at Chotta Shimla, Lift, near Cancer Hospital and Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), the sources said.

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