Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister inaugurated the week long State Level Nalwari Fair of Sundernagar in district Mandi by nailing the stake at Nagaun Khad and worshipping a pair of oxen, symbol of hilly agriculture after he laid the foundation stone of combined office building at Chatrokhri, estimated to cost Rs. 2.23 crore at Bhojpur in Sundernagar today.
Adressing the inaugural ceremony after unfurling the Mela Flag, Chief Minister said that State would be striving to increase agriculture SGDP upto 50 percent to strengthen the agro-economy with diversified farming and cultivation of cash crops and provide rural people self-employment avenues in agriculture sector. He said that State would be promoting organic farming in a big way, which was gaining choice with the affording consumers. He said that the organic fertilizer was distributed free and tastes better than the crops produced with chemical fertilizers.
Chief Minister said that SC Component Plan budget had been increased to Rs. 594 in the year 2008-09 which was Rs. 231 in the year 2007-08. He said that the budget had been increased by more than hundred percent.
Prof. Dhumal, said that the State had made budgetary provisions of Rs. 90 crore to subsidize the essential commodities to the targetted sections of the society. He said that although previous Government had introduced the subsidized ration programme without making budgetary provisions for which the new Government provided Rs. 70 crore for current financial year. He said that best efforts were being made to maintain the price level of the essential commodities and also their adequate supply to the consumers through the network of Public Distribution System in every part of the State.
Chief Minister said that cattle fair were directly linked with the agro-economy since trading of oxen had been taking place during such fairs and every farmer visits the mela to buy best pair for ploughing their fields. He said that the significance of domestic animals was still of utmost importance with the hilly farmers where scientific farming was not practical. He emphasized the need to rear best species of the domestic animals to carry their agricultural activities more effectively besides adopting the modern scientific modes of farming.
Prof. Dhumal said that the ACR (Annual Confidential Reports) of the field officers would be based upon their performance in the field. He gave a clarion call to the field officers to visit farmers and educate them about latest innovation in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which formed the major income generating activity of the state farmers. He said that every research had to be implemented in the field and farmers educated about the benefits of the modern farming techniques.
Chief Minister revealed that Rs. 75.20 crore were being spent on various developmental projects in Sundernagar constituency which included Rs. 36 crore over road connectivity, Rs. 35.15 crore over government Engineering College Complex, Rs. 2.26 crore on hostel for Ploytechnic students, Rs. 1.19 crore over ITI building for physically challenged children and Rs. 60 lakh for the construction of Children’s Home. He said that similarly many more developmental activities were also taking place which were worth several crores of rupees.
Chief Minister was presented a draft of Rs. 31,000 by Shri Hari Singh Thakur, Sundernagar BJP Mandal President, Rs. 11,000 by Mahadev Beopar Mandal, Rs. 501 by Shakti Kendra and Rs. 51 by Shri Labh Singh as contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for which Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the donors.
Later, Chief Minister dedicated the Forest Training Centre Complex, constructed at a cost of Rs. 90 lakh at Karnodi.
Shri Roop Singh Thakur, Local MLA and former Minister welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for inaugurating the fair. He urged Chief Minister to construct a garbage treatment plant for solid waste disposal of the town besides making funds available for the various developmental projects.
Shri Dile Ram, MLA, Nachan and a former Minister urged for a separate Development Block for his Assembly segment to oversee the developmental works in the area. He also wanted other field offices opened in Nachan area.
Shri Lalit Sen, Vice President, Municipal Committee, Sundernagar, Shri Ram Kumar Gautam, SDM-cum-Chairman, Nalwari Fair organizing Committee welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed itinerary of the fair.
Shri Gulab Singh Thakur, PWD and Revenue Minister, Shri Jai Ram Thakur, MLA Chachiot and State BJP President Shri Heera Lal, MLA, Shri Damodar Dass, Shri Kanhaiya Lal Thakur, Shri D.D. Thakur, former MLAs, Shri Ved Prakash Sharma Nachan BJP Mandal, President Shri Rakesh Jamwal, State BJP Youth Spokesman, Shri Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Shri M. Chander Shekhar, S.P., Shri B.S. Rajpal Engineer-in-Chief, HP PWD, prominent people and other senior officers were present.