Tattapani to be developed as tourist spot: CM

ibune News Service

Mandi, January 14

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said Tattapani would be developed to attract water sports lovers.

He was here to lay foundation stones of various development projects on Makar Sankranti.

Congratulating the people on Makar Sankranti, Thakur said: “It is the duty of each one of us to preserve the rich cultural diversity of the state. Due to the construction of Kol Dam, the area can be developed as a major water sports destination.”

The Chief Minister said a mini-secretariat building and an ITI building had been sanctioned for the area, which would cost Rs 14.86 crore and about Rs 8 crore, respectively.

Development works worth Rs 12.76 crore had been sanctioned under the PMGSY and Rs 3.32 crore under NABARD for the area.

Thakur said the state government had raised a loan of Rs 46,500 crore due to financial mismanagement of the previous government.

To cope with the situation, the government had decided to prepare development projects for Central funding and had managed to get a nod for development projects worth Rs 9,500 crore from the Central government within a year.

He said: “The Opposition has been making a hue and cry over my Delhi visits, but after learning about my major initiatives for the development of the state, it has nothing to say.”

“Under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana, about 40,000 new LPG connections have been provided to beneficiaries and Himachal will become the first state to have LPG connections in every household by the end of May this year. The previous government opened educational and health institutions without making adequate budget provisions. The first and foremost priority of the government is to strengthen the existing health and educational institutions,” Thakur added.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of ‘ghats’ at Tattapani, costing Rs 123 lakh. The stone of Sutlej waterfront beautification and protection work to be carried out at a cost of Rs 105.72 lakh was also laid.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the lift water supply scheme — Jaswal-Savidhar — constructed at a cost of Rs 6.76 crore. It will benefit over 3,600 people.

The Chief Minister announced a PWD sub-division at Pangna and a primary health centre at Tattapani. He also announced Rs 3 lakh each for five Mahila Mandals of the area, upgrade of Middle School, Gudrodhar, Rs 5 lakh for the development of Mela Ground at Tattapani. Bridges would be constructed over the Bighan Khud and the Sutlej river, he added.

A free medical camp and a blood donation camp were held by the Hedgewar Memorial Committee.

Thakur was accompanied by Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma, Karsog MLA Hira Lal and other local BJP leaders.