SUNDERNAGAR, July 26: Former Communication Minister and HVC Chief Sukh Ram has once again reiterated his stand to oppose setting up of more cement plants in Himachal Pradesh. Talking to ENShere last evening, Sukh Ram said he was opposing this for the reason that cement plants were damaging the ecological balance and posing a danger to the tourist industry in the state.Sukh Ram said the Ambuja cement plant at Darlaghat was enjoying several concessions running into Rs 16 crore at the cost of the exchequer. This needed to be checked. He described the Himachal budget presented by Chief Minister P. K. Dhumal as balanced, aiming at generation of resources.Earlier, the budgets were made tax free to gain political mileage, he said. This had created a deficit for years together. On having a tax structure at par with Punjab, Sukh Ram said it is not possible since Punjab is a producing state while HP is consuming one.He strongly opposed the execution of medium and large hydel power projects by NJPC or NHPC as these agencies were delaying execution. This delay was causing unemployment and the cost of power was shooting up. Sukh Ram favoured setting up of an eco-development authority to check soil erosion and to provide green cover in the river valleys of Bharat Dam, Beas Sutlej Link project and other hydel projects.This authority, he suggested, should be under the chairmanship of the prime minister. Sukh Ram spoke against the separation of the national highway wing from the PWD as it was not possible to monitor the road worthiness of the highways through any other agency. The state PWD is fully equipped and capable of maintaining bridges, national highways and to carry out repairs as and when required, he added.
