Minister opens Rs 24L Patwar circle building in Shillai

Industries, Parliamentary Affairs and Labour & Employment Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan on Sunday inaugurated a Kanungo and Patwar Circle building at Dugana in Shillai Assembly Constituency. The building has been completed for Rs 24 lakh.

Addressing a gathering, the minister congratulated the people of the area on getting their own office building and said the new facility would benefit residents of 11 surrounding panchayats.

He added that the need for the office building had been long felt and its completion will greatly improve administrative efficiency in the region.

Chauhan said every public representative strived for the development of his area and the true reflection of growth begins at the level of Panchayati Raj institutions. He urged people to elect representatives who are dedicated to the progress of their respective panchayats.

Recalling the devastation caused by natural disasters in the past two years, the minister said despite severe damage to life, property and the state’s economy, the Himachal Pradesh Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu continued to push forward on the path of progress, even as Central assistance had been reduced.

Highlighting the ongoing development in Shillai constituency, Chauhan added that projects worth over Rs 300 crore have been sanctioned during the current tenure. These include Rs 19 crore for a 100-bed hospital and Rs 16 crore for a mini-secretariat at Shillai, Rs 5 crore for the construction of Ronhat College building, Rs 1.25 crore for additional rooms at the PWD Rest House in Shillai and the construction of an IPH Rest House at Timbi.

He said road connectivity remained his priority, with projects like the Rs 24 crore Manal-Kodga road and the Rs 15 crore alternative route from Salwala to Satoun to be constructed to ensure all-weather connectivity. Other key projects include Bhaila-Kallatha road (Rs 5.54 crore), Rajpur-Kallatha road (Rs 10.49 crore), PHC Katin Maswa (Rs 1.26 crore), PHC Satoun (Rs 1 crore), GSSS Nageta (Rs 1.9 crore), GHS Sanog (Rs 66 lakh), Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School, Satoun (Rs 5 crore), Thontha Water Supply Scheme (Rs 5.8 crore) and Bagh Hawra Water Supply Scheme (Rs 3.5 crore).

The minister pointed out that during the previous tenure, only Rs 40 crore was spent through NABARD in Shillai constituency, whereas in the current term projects worth Rs 95 crore are being executed under the same scheme.

He added that 95% of health centres in the area now have staff posted and eight new doctors have been deployed recently. Over 200 JBT teachers have also been appointed, along with TGT (Arts, Medical and Non-Medical) staff in almost every school.