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Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Unveils Deposit Refund Scheme and Bans Small PET Bottles

This measure builds on the state’s green reforms alongside administrative overhauls aimed at strengthening local governance.

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Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chairs a cabinet meeting on Saturday. (HT photo)
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chairs a cabinet meeting in Shimla on Saturday. (HT photo)
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Overview

  • The Deposit Refund Scheme 2025 will launch on a pilot basis with refundable deposits on packaging from glass bottles to multilayer plastics to encourage waste return.
  • The government will prohibit sale of PET bottles up to 500 ml from June 1, 2025 to curb single-use plastic waste in urban and tourist areas.
  • The cabinet approved recruitment of 700 Home Guard volunteers and regularised services of 203 Panchayat Secretaries to bolster civil defence and rural administration.
  • The Real Estate Regulatory Authority office will relocate from Shimla to Dharamsala and development blocks in Kangra and Hamirpur districts will be reorganised to improve local governance.
  • The Postgraduate/Specialist Services Policy was amended to waive the one-year field posting requirement for senior residency eligibility at IGMC Shimla and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda.