New development block for Kotkhai

SHIMLA, July 15: A new development block would be opened at Kotkhai and top priority accorded to construction and maintenance of the roads in the apple-belt of Upper Shimla, state Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has announced.

Dhumal, who began his two-day tour of Kotkhai, Jubbal and Rohru areas, also assured apple-growers of arrangements for apple transportation. Addressing an impressive public meeting at Kotkhai, he said a proposal would be sent to the Centre soon regarding the opening of a development block there. However, till a final decision was taken, the development officer of Jubbal would camp at Kotkhai for three days in a week. Dhumal, accompanied by former CM Ram Lal Thakur, Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta, earlier, laid the foundation stone for a commercial complex and inaugurated Tehtoli-Standali road named after BJP leader Thakur Jagdev Chand. The road has been constructed at a cost of Rs 17.18 lakh.

Dhumal announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for the construction of a high school building at Gumma.

Earlier, he inspected a carton factory of Agro-Packaging India Limited, at Pragti Nagar, and directed the authorities to take effective steps for strengthening it and increasing production to meet the requirements of cartons within the state and those of Jammu and Kashmir.

Thakur, speaking on the occasion, welcomed the move of the Chief Minister to adopt the approach of consensus in the larger interest of the development of the state. He said roads in the area needed special attention to benefit the apple-growers to take their produce to the market. He also thanked the Chief Minister for raising the support price of apples and other fruits in the state.

Bragta said 172 procurement centres for apple would start functioning from July 20 and it was for the first time that the centres had been set up in time.