Rs 300-cr cancer institute to come up at Hamirpur Medical College

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announced a slew of development projects for Barsar constituency, asserting that there is no dearth of funds for the area’s growth. Addressing a public gathering in Barsar, Sukhu said the government was committed to transforming the region through sustained infrastructure, education and healthcare upgrades.

The Chief Minister inaugurated a mini-secretariat building constructed at a cost of Rs 17.45 crore and announced the upgradation of Barsar hospital into a 100-bed facility. He added that an amount of Rs 96 crore was being spent on the development and double-laning of roads in the constituency, while a Rs 65-crore project was underway to beautify and improve facilities for devotees at the Baba Balak Nath Temple.

In a major step for education, Sukhu announced that Government Senior Secondary School, Barsar, will be affiliated with CBSE from the next academic session. “So far, 20 government schools in the state have received CBSE recognition,” he said.

Highlighting projects across Hamirpur district, the Chief Minister revealed that Rs 300 crore would be invested in developing a Cancer Institute at Hamirpur Medical College. He also announced the establishment of seven new specialty departments worth Rs 100 crore in the medical college.

Additionally, plans were announced for an indoor stadium, parking facilities and the start of MA and MCom classes in the local government college. The government also intends to install solar and high-mast lights in key markets and gram panchayats.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Sukhu said that the previous regime had built infrastructure worth Rs 1,000 crore that remains unused and opened 600 schools without appointing teachers. “Their mismanagement pushed the state’s education ranking down to 21, but now Himachal stands fifth in the ASER national ranking,” he said.

He also criticised the Centre for withholding the Rs 1,500-crore disaster relief package announced by the Prime Minister, urging all seven Himachal MPs to ensure the promised aid reaches the state’s affected people soon.