Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister addressing a mammoth public meeting at Dodan Thala in Sarkaghat Sub Division of district Mandi today.Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that hoarders of essential commodities would be brought to book and ineligible social welfare pensioners would be deleted from the list. He said that traditional water bodies would be revived and honorarium of PRIs and Urban Local Bodies office bearers would be enhanced. He said that there would be no backdoor recruitments in the State and Kandapattan Water Supply Scheme would be completed on priority. He was addressing a mammoth public meeting at Dodan Thala in Sarkaghat Sub Division of district Mandi today.
He dedicated the 33/11 KV Sub Station at Cholthra constructed at a cost of Rs. 2 crore under APDRP to the people of the area. He also laid the foundation stone of Sadhot bridge over Rosho khad on Parchnu-Sadhot-Cholthra road estimated to cost of Rs. 21,69,392. He also performed bhumi pojan to start construction of the bailey bridge over Mortan khad to cost Rs.89.79 lacs besides laying foundation stone of Chaswal bridge over Damol khad to cost Rs. 62,41,600.
Chief Minister said that State Government was keeping strict vigil over essential commodities traders to ensure that no hoarding was being carried out. He said that those found hoarding essential commodities would be dealt with as per the provisions of the law of the land and it would be ensured that every section of society was provided adequate essential commodities.
Prof. Dhumal said that procurement price of citrus fruits was also increased with a view to maintain minimum rate in the market. He said that Himachal Pradesh was the first State which was providing support price on perishable commodities to protect the interests of the farmers. He emphasized the need to stop the wastage of drinking water and adopt rain water harvesting for non drinking purposes. He said that traditional water resources needed to protected and revived to meet the growing demand of water in rural and urban areas. He appealed the people to make optimum use of water.
Chief Minister said that need has emerged to increase the agriculture production with a view to meet the demand of the country and added that it would be possible by diversification of traditional cropping pattern. He said that it was in the interest of the State that agriculture production was improved.
Prof. Dhumal said that holidays on Karvachauth, Raksha Bandhan and Bhaiya Dooj were announced for working women while other women were permitted to travel free to any destination within the State in HRTC buses on Raksha Bandhan and Bhaiya Dooj. He said that in order to fulfill the election promises, State Government has decided to provide 50 percent reservation to women in all PRIs. He said that all such initial decisions taken by State Government would go a long way in facilitating women in the State who were contributing significantly towards the development. He said that 33 percent reservation was also given by the BJP Government.
Chief Minister said that Accelerated Power Development Reform Programme was envisioned by former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee with a view to solve low voltage problem in rural areas. He said that the programme had been a grand success since the power reforms had benefited the consumers with improved power supply as large number of new transformers and voltage improvement devices had been installed at a number of places.
Chief Minister was presented a draft of Rs. 51,009 by Dharampur PWD Contractors Union and Rs. one lakh by Dharampur BJP Mandal as contribution towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Later, he also performed bhumi poojan of 25 meter long span bridge over Rosso khad on Parchnu-Rosso road estimated to cost Rs. 23.81 lacs.
Earlier, Chief Minister addressed a public meeting at Cholthra and announced Rs. 35 lacs for construction of PHC Cholthra and Rs. 12.50 lacs for Government Senior Secondary School, Cholthra. He also addressed another public meeting at Chaswal and announced Rs. 50 lacs for construction of PHC Darwar with the directions to PWD to take up the construction work of all the projects on priority and complete the same in a timebound manner. He also reiterated the resolve of his Government to carry out uniform and balanced development of the entire State.
Chief Minister was accorded a warm reception by people of Dharampur assembly constituency en route by standing on both sides of the road to welcome him on his first visit during his present term to the area. He also listened to public grievances at all places and issued necessary directions to concerned authorities.
Shri Mahender Singh Thakur, MLA and former PWD Minister welcomed Chief Minister and thanked him for laying foundation stones of various developmental projects. He lauded the State Government for getting three IRBs for the State which contained one women battalion, generating employment to 3500 unemployed youth. He said that Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal had assured employment to 26,000 youth in State sector alone in next financial year and demanded new buses to be added to HRTC Sarkaghat Depot fleet. He urged funds for LWSS Kandapattan Sajao-Piplu scheme and also apprised him of local demands.
Shri Ram Kumar, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Sadhot apprised Chief Minister of various local demands.
Col. Inder Singh, MLA, Gopalpur and President District Mandi BJP, Shri Dile Ram, MLA Nachan, Shri Damodar Dass, former MLA, Shri Dharam Singh, Mandal BJP President, Shri Satya Virat Sharma, Member Zila Parishad, Shri Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Chander Shekhar, Superintendent of Police, Shri D.K. Gupta, Chief Engineer, I&PH, Shri Mishra, Chief Engineer, HPPWD, Shri S.R. Negi, S.E. PWD, other senior officers and prominent people were present on the occasion.