CM: 51 events to mark Himachal statehood golden jubilee

Shimla, February 9

The golden jubilee year of statehood will be celebrated in a befitting manner by organising 51 events throughout the state, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over a session of the MLAs priority meeting here today. He urged the legislators of Kangra and Hamirpur districts to give their suggestions for inclusion in the Budget.

Thakur said that the MLAs had donated a major portion of their salaries to fight the Covid pandemic, besides motivating the people of their constituencies to contribute generously towards the Chief Minister’s Covid Fund.

The MLAs from Kangra district urged Thakur to make adequate provision in the Budget for the construction of a mini-secretariat at Indora and bridges, an Atal Adarsh Vidayalaya at Kotla be started at the earliest, a permanent police post at Nagrota Surian, redress of the grievances of 400 families of Pong Dam oustees, deployment of adequate staff and specialists in hospitals and a fine arts college at Andreta village.

The MLAs also demanded smaller buses for rural routes, a BDO office and a paragliding training school and a heliport at Palampur, a bus stand at Baijnath, beautification of Khirganga, expediting the work of Central University, a bus stand at Dharamsala and expediting various works under the Dharamsala Smart City Project, strengthening of an alternative road from MacLeodganj to Dharamsala and a proper path to Adi Himani Chamunda.

The MLAs from Hamirpur urged the Chief Minister to solve the drinking water problem, construct an indoor stadium at Bhoranj, a 33 KV substation at Patlander, fill the posts of patwari, expedite the work on a bus stand, develop Baba Balaknath Temple for tourism, construct the Civil Hospital building at Barsar, shift the 400-metre highway stretch passing through the upcoming Medical College at Hamirpur, a Spice Park at Nadaun and Jal Shakti and PWD divisions at Nadaun.

The Kinnaur MLAs were concerned over the delay in FRA and FCA clearances. They urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter regarding the Border Area Development Plan with the Centre so that adequate funds could be made available.

The MLAs from Solan district said that the online process for the approval of house maps in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area must be started and a foodgrain market be opened at Nalagrah, and the Shamti bypass and adequate parking spaces be constructed to solve the traffic problem of Solan town. The other demands included the opening of a degree college, upgrade of hospitals, and Kuthed sub-tehsil to a tehsil.

The MLAs from Shimla district urged the Chief Minster for sewerage facility in Sunni town, expediting the work on the Tutu Sabzi Mandi, renovation of forest rest houses in Chopal, a one-way road to the Hatu Temple, developing Narkanda as a tourist destination, and the old Indo-Tibet road as a cycling route to promote tourism, and a special scheme for farmers.

The other priorities included the shifting of the Lakkar Bazaar bus stand in Shimla town to Dhalli, an alternative road to New Shimla, increase in allocation under NABARD for each constituency, better power supply, development of Chanshal for tourism, an alternative all-weather road from Seo Dogri in Uttarakhand to Dodra Kawar. —TNS