A Spokesman of the State Government said that the State level Assessment Team under Maharishi Valmiki Sampooran Swachta Puraskar has started the selection process for awarding the ‘Cleanest Panchayat’ at State level. The team is visiting nine panchayats of the selected Shimla, Kangra and Mandi divisions. A cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh would be awarded to the cleanest panchayat by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

He said that the team would visit Meri Kathala, Dalchera and Bari Farnol panchayats of Mandi division, Mindhal, Daroh and Fatehpur panchayats of Kangra division and Bohal Taliya, Himri and Lana Paller panchayats of Shimla division. These panchayats were adjudged as clean panchayats during 2009, 2010 and 2011 at division level.

The Members of State level Assessment Team are Aravinda Satyavada, Water and Sanitation Programme (South Asia) Representative, Prem Tanta, Core Faculty, SIRD (HIPA)-Team Leader, Pradeep Kunwar, Deputy Director, Central Zone, Information and Public Relations Department, Mandi, V.P. Kashyap, Deputy Director, Elementary Education Department, Shimla, Er. P.K. Vaidya, Executive Engineer I&PH, M.R. Sagroli, Deputy Director (SCSP), Directorate of SC, OBC and Minority Affairs, Shimla, R.S. Mehta, Project Economist, DRDA, Shimla, Rajesh Jharta, TSC Consultant, RD State Hqrs. and Prem Thakur, Pradhan, GP Chamiyana (Mashobra Block).