Himachal CM Sukhu announces Rs 10-cr industrial area for Fatehpur, rolls out development push

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced a series of development initiatives for the Fatehpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district, including Rs 10 crore for setting up an industrial area aimed at boosting local employment and economic growth.

Addressing a public gathering at Jakhbar, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for the renovation of Wazir Ram Singh Stadium and Rs 20,000 each as financial assistance to mahila mandals. He further stated that the office of the Chief Engineer of the Shah Canal project would be re-established in Fatehpur after being shifted to Mandi.

Launching an attack on the previous BJP government, the Chief Minister said it had received nearly Rs 60,000 crore more from the Centre compared to the present government. He said the earlier regime got Rs 54,000 crore as Revenue Deficit Grant and Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation, whereas the current government had received only around Rs 17,000 crore. He alleged that despite higher funds, resources were misused and buildings worth Rs 1,000 crore were constructed, many of which remain unused.

Highlighting reforms undertaken by his government, Sukhu said the present government has improved education and healthcare sectors. He noted that English-medium education had been introduced from Class I; 151 schools have been brought under the CBSE pattern and the state has risen to the fifth position in quality education from 21st in 2021. He said teachers will be appointed in CBSE schools by June 30.

He also outlined steps taken to strengthen the rural economy, including procurement of naturally grown turmeric at Rs 150 per kg, cow milk at Rs 61 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 71 per litre.

Focusing on fishermen welfare, the CM said the government had fixed a minimum support price for fish and would provide an honorarium of Rs 3,500 to fisher families during the monsoon fishing ban period. He added that royalty on fish caught from reservoirs has been reduced from 15 per cent to 1 per cent.

Earlier, Sukhu performed inaugurations and laid foundation stones of eight development projects worth Rs 153.81 crore in the area.

He performed the bhumi pujan for an Rs 103.65-crore, 800-m-span bridge over the Beas; a Rs 13.6-crore Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan in Fatehpur; and parking and other works at the Fatehpur grain market costing Rs 3.14 crore.

The CM also laid foundation stones of Rs 9.09-crore Fatehpur to Badiali Road under NABARD and Rs 35 lakh for Shaheed Smarak at Fatehpur. He also inaugurated Rs 12.82 crore combined office building at Fatehpur, Rs 5.27 crore Kodi Bela to Paral Road and Rs 5.89 crore Palakh to Charuri and Malhari to Duhag Road under NABARD.

Before this, the CM laid the foundation stone of construction of electrical division and subdivision office buildings and augmentation of 33-kV sub-station at Jawalamukhi in Kangra district.

The estimated cost of both projects is Rs 4 crore. He also announced another electrical subdivision at Dehriyan along with provisions of Rs 10 crore.

He said the state government was working on a Rs 150-crore master plan to develop religious tourism in Jawalamukhi, Chintpurani and Naina Devi.