Public health division for Karsog in HP

SUNDERNAGAR, Feb 16: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today, while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Karso...

SUNDERNAGAR, Feb 16: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today, while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Karsog, announced the opening of irrigation and public health division and its sub-division at Chhatri in Chahoiot area.

The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for expediting the construction of government degree college building during the current financial year, besides a grant of Rs 7 lakh for construction of Seri-Sahot road and Rs 4 lakh for the Katanda-Kothi road. He further announced the opening of a senior secondary school at Shakra and upgradation of the primary schools at Matehal and Sartaula to middle standard.

Referring to the pace of development in the state, Dhumal said his government had planned to make Himachal Pradesh a prosperous and model state by the year 2010, by harnessing its hydel and tourism potential. He said work on the 80 mw Malana and 12 mw Khauli project had been started and agreement for the 2050 mw Parbati hydel project had been signed. He added that execution of other projects like the Kol dam and the ones at Rampur and Sawra would also be taken up.

Dhumal said his government had decided to promote fruit-based industries with highly subsidised rates and tax holiday for five years to entrepreneurs. Dhumal further added that Rs 164 crore had been provided during the current financial year for construction of roads in the state, against Rs 90 crore last year.

The chief minister disclosed that 13,612 new rooms would be constructed for primary schools by March 2002, to ensure a minimum of three rooms for each school. The work on middle, high and higher secondary schools would be taken up in phased manner thereafter, he said.

Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister disclosed that Shimla-Mandi road via Tattapani would be widened with funds from Nabard. Mansa Ram, Civil Supplies Minister urged the chief Minister to upgrade the rural hospital at Karsog to a referral hospital, as hospitals at Sundernagar, Shimla and Mandi were distantly located. He also stressed upon the need to expedite various developmental works in Karsog constituency.

Maheshwar Singh, MP stressed upon formulating policies of agriculture and horticulture to boost the economy of this backward sub-division. He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh from Sansad Nidhi for Karsog constituency, and said the amount would be spent on construction of a government degree college.

Story continues below this ad

Sukh Ram, chairman, employment generation and resources mobilisation, stressed on the need for striking a balance between development and environment protection and boosting tourism in Karsog. Jai Ram, MLA, Rakesh Pathania, Chairman, HPTDC, Ganesh Dutt, chairman, HP Housing Board, Dile Ram, senior vice-president, state unit of BJP, Joginder Pal, former MLA, were also present on the occasion.