Planning meeting will be held at district level annually: CM

Planning meeting would also be held at the district level once in a year, so that the elected representatives get opportunity to underline their developmental needs at the district level as well. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the concluding session of second day of MLAs priority meeting for the Budget 2021-22 with the MLAs of Solan, Shimla, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts here today. Jai Ram Thakur said that the present State Government has ensured balanced development of the State during last three years with special focus on those areas which remained neglected due to one or other reasons. He said that an amount of Rs 121 crore was spent under the HIMCARE Scheme to benefit about 1.25 lakh people. As many as 2.90 lakh households have been provided free gas connections under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna. He expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his benevolence towards the State and its people. He said that Prime Minister dedicated Rs 3200 crore Atal Tunnel Rohtang for providing all weather connectivity to the landlocked Lahaul valley which would go a long way in boosting the tourism activities in the area thereby providing employment and self employment avenues to the youth. Chief Minister said that during the first three years tenure of the present State Government 639 MLA priority schemes worth Rs 2382 crore were approved, whereas during the tenure of the previous State Government 433 MLA priority schemes worth Rs 2033 crore had  been approved during the corresponding period. He said that a provision of Rs 1276 crore was made for implementation of the MLA priorities during the first three years tenure of the previous State Government, whereas a provision of Rs 2221 crore had been made during the three years tenure of the present State Government. Jai Ram Thakur thanked the MLAs for their effective and much needed contribution to check the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the State, besides donating a major portion of their salary towards the CM COVID Fund. He said that State MLA Development Fund was also stopped initially but during the Monsoon session Rs 50 lakh of this Fund was restored. He said that this has helped the MLAs to provide funds for development of their areas.

Chief Minister said that the State Government has decided to celebrate Golden Jubilee year of the Statehood by organizing 51 Golden Jubilee functions to highlight the development journey of the State during these fifty years. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure active participation of all the MLAs to organize the event in a befitting manner. He said that strict action would be taken against those involved in damaging of foundation stone and inauguration plaques. He said that the Deputy Commissioners should immediately restore such damaged plaques. Chief Minister said that out of the 68 MLAs, 57 MLAs attended the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions. He said that the elected representatives should work with commitment and dedication to come upto the expectations of the people. He said that despite limited resources, the State Government would ensure that all the MLAs priorities are given preference. He preferance the MLAs that State Government would ensure strengthening of the Institution of MLA. He said that MLAs must give their suggestions so that Golden Jubilee year of the Statehood could be celebrated in a befitting manner. He said that officers must ensure effective implementation of MLA priorities.

District Kinnaur:

MLA Kinnaur Jagat Singh Negi, while expressing his concern over the delay in getting FRA and FCA clearances, said that special efforts needed to be made to expedite work on various projects hanging in fire for quite some time. He also urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter regarding the Border Area Development Plan with the Union Government so that adequate funds could be made available under this Plan. He urged for providing specialists at Civil Hospital Reckong Peo. He said that greater budget should be allocated in horticulture and agriculture sectors keeping in view the difficult topography of the tribal area.

District Solan:

MLA Nalagarh Lakhvinder Singh Rana said that online process for getting approval of maps of houses in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area must be started like other parts of the State. He said that foodgrain market should also be opened at Nalagrah to facilitate the farmers of the area. He said that two 33 KV Sub Stations should be provided in the constituency to solve the low voltage problem in the area. He urged that adequate staff should be provided in Nalagarh Hospital.  MLA Doon Paramjit Singh Pammi said that despite a most industrial constituency of the State, there is no Sub Division in the constituency. He urged for opening of SDM and BDO offices at Baddi. He said that Degree College should also be opened in the upper area of the constituency. He said that work on 50 bedded hospital at Baddi must be expedited so that it could be completed soon. He also urged to upgrade Kuthed sub tehsil into tehsil.

MLA Solan Col. Dhani Ram Shandil said that DPRs must be prepared expeditiously for water supply schemes in his constituency. He also felt the need to ensure early construction of Shamti bye-pass to solve the traffic problem of Solan town. He said that buildings of Senior Secondary Schools at Koti Deora and Kotla should be completed at the earliest. He said that adequate parking must be constructed in the Solan town to facilitate the people of the town.

District Shimla:

MLA Shimla Rural Vikramaditya Singh said that DPRs must be prepared timely so that the projects could be started at the earliest. He said that proper sewerage facility be provided in Sunni town, besides covering it under Jal Jeevan Mission for providing drinking water to the town. He said that special focus and funds must be made available for timebound completion of developmental works which were nearing completion. He said that work on Dalog Ghat to Dhrogra road must be taken in hand soon. He said that work on Tutu Sabzi Mandi should be started at the earliest.

MLA Chopal Balbir Singh Verma said that better facilities be provided in Civil Hospital Chopal, besides making adequate provision of funds for construction of Civil Hospital at Nerwa. He said that 66 KV Sub Station be set up in his constituency, besides upgradation of few transformers in the constituency to provide better power supply in the area. He said that Atal Adarsh Vidhalaya in Chopal was delayed due to forest clearance. He said that work on Bus Stand Nerwa should be completed at the earliest and all the Forest Rest Houses in Chopal should also be renovated. MLA Theog Rakesh Singha said that one-way road may be provided to Hatu Temple keeping in view the rush of traffic on the road leading to the temple. He said that proper planning was required to develop Narkanda as a major tourist destination. He also felt the need to develop the old Indo Tibet Road as a cycling route to promote tourism in the area. He said that a special scheme may be introduced in the budget to provide assistance to small and marginal farmers to rejuvenate the farming. He said that work of Theog bye-pass need to be expedited.

MLA Kasumpti Anirudh Singh said that Lakkar Bazar Bus Stand must be shifted to Dhalli to provide some relief to traffic congestion. He said that proper maintenance of roads must be ensured in his constituency. He said that DPRs of a few roads in his area were still pending which needed to be prepared soon. He said that alternative road be provided to New Shimla. He said that the allocation under NABARD for each constituency must be increased from Rs 120 crore to Rs 150 crore. He said that adequate doctors be ensured in Civil Hospital Junga. He said that more crash barriers be provided on Mashobra-Bekhaliti road.

MLA Rohru Mohan Lal Brakta also felt the need to increase NABARD Funds so that MLAs could get adequate funds to take up various developmental projects in the area. He said that X-Ray machine needed to be repaired and maintained in the Civil Hospital Rohru. He said that steps must also be taken to strengthen the power supply in his constituency. He said that adequate funds  should be provided for strengthening roads in the area. He said that Chanshal should be developed from tourism of point of view. He said that steps must be taken to provide alternative road from Seo Dogri in Uttrakhand to Dodra Kawar to provide all weather connectivity to the area. Additional Chief Secretary Finance Prabodh Saxena welcomed the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries present on the occasion.  Advisor Planning Dr. Basu Sood made a presentation regarding process of online registration by the MLAs of their priorities. Agriculture, Information and Technology Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda, Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Deputy Chairman State Planning Board Ramesh Chand Dhawala, Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu, Principal Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of Departments were present in the meeting, whereas the Deputy Commissioners and other district officers joined the meeting through video conference from their respective districts

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