MLAs rue delay in preparation of project reports of NABARD schemes

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today assured the Assembly that directions would be given to officials to expedite the grant of clearances for the preparation of detailed project reports (DPR) for MLA priority schemes under NABARD. He was replying to a joint question of Vinod Kumar (Nachan), Sukh Ram Chaudhary (Paonta Sahib) and Randhir Sharma (Naina Devi).

The Chief Minister said that a limit of Rs 200 crore had been set for NABARD schemes for each constituency, which included road and water projects. The legislators rued that an inordinate delay in the preparation of DPRs was delaying the construction of road and water schemes recommended by them. Sukhu added that a committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, had been constituted to upload cases under NABARD. “Since 67 per cent of the total land in Himachal has been designated as forestland, we are now ensuring that NOCs and affidavits from various departments and private landowners are obtained in view of the court directives,” he added.

Sukhu said that a review petition had been filed in court to seek the regularisation of 2,183 roads that had already been built on forestland without approval. “A total of 627 DPRs worth Rs 3,101 crore have been sent to NABARD between January, 2022, and July, 2025, including 366 DPRs by the Public Works Department and 267 by the Jal Shakti Department,” he added. He asserted that 245 DPRs under the MLA priority scheme worth Rs 1,684.25 crore had been approved in this period.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur urged the government to direct officials to expedite the process for the formulation of the DPRs under NABARD in the constituencies of the BJP MLAs and prioritise these schemes when making recommendations to the Central Government,” he said. He also sought the grant of additional funds for disaster-affected areas.

Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said that many DPRs were pending with NABARD as various departments like Revenue and Forest and the Deputy Commissioner’s office takes months together to issue NOCs, delaying the project. He added that all these permissions and NOCs should be made time bound.

Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti raised the issue of the delay in filling the post of State Drug Controller that was vacant for almost two years. Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil assured the House that after the Recruitment and Promotion Rules were framed and modified, the post would be filled.

Leasing land for illegal mining to invite action

• Landowners conniving with illegal miners will face suitable legal action, Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said during the ongoing monsoon session of the Assembly on Friday
• Chauhan was responding to a point of order raised by Fatehpur MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania
• Areas where owners were leasing land for illegal mining would be identified and strict action would be taken against them (pti)