Mandi: The sewerage charges which were presently 50 per cent of the water bill, as per the notification of June 2005, would be reduced to 25 per cent to facilitate the people of the State. This was announced by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing a largely attended public meeting at the historic Seri Manch Mandi today. He said that foundation stones and inauguration of developmental projects worth Rs 167 crore were laid by him today for Mandi town.
Chief Minister said that these two-year’s time period of present government has been dedicated to good governance, innovations in various sectors and public service. He said that due to the effective implementation of these schemes, there has been a major change in lives of the people of the State. He said that winning of all the four seats in Lok Sabha elections by a record margin and thereafter winning both by-elections proves that people of the state have given their full support to the policies and programmes of the State Government.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has accorded top priority for redressal of public grievances. He said that Jan Manch programme initiated by state government has proved to be a mile stone in addressing the public grievances in minimum time period. So far, 171 Jan Manch have been organised in all the 68 Assembly constituencies of the state in which 43,271 complaints and demands were received and 91 percent of these have been settled, he added.
Chief Minister said that the opposition have failed miserably in performing its duty assigned to them in the democratic setup. He said that they have no issue and were raking up non issues to remain in news. He said that going a step ahead, the state government has started Chief Minister Helpline-1100 in which about 1.40 calls were received out of which 37,349 complaints were received and 30,303 complaints have been redressed. He said that as many as 3, 56, 563 senior citizens were being provided enhanced pension at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month under social security pension.
Jai Ram Thakur said that as many as 1,36,000 families of the state have benefited from the ‘Ujjwala scheme’ of the Central Government. He said that under Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna, more than 2.62 lakh families have been benefited so far and Himachal Pradesh is to become the first state in the country where every household will have an LPG gas connection. He said that the State Government has launched ‘Him Care’ scheme for the families not covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme. So far, about 54, 282 patients have availed the facility of this scheme and 51 crore 33 lakhs were spent on it till date, he added.
Chief Minister said that a view to make the state economically self-reliant and to create employment opportunities for the youth, the State Government organized the Global Investors’ Meet at Dharamshala. He said that it was unfortunate that the opposition was making much hue and cry regarding this Meet. He said that even the Congress ruled state had organised such Meets but the Congress leaders were finding fault in this Meet. He said that the State Government adopted austerity measures and spent minimum on this event. He said that even the CAG has questioned the unmindful expenditure on development of the Industrial area in Una district during the tenure of the Congress Government, where about Rs 45 crore were spent only on land development and lifting of soil whereas adequate land was available nearby.
Chief Minister announced Rs 2 crore of Mandi Nagar Parishad for construction of shops for vendors of town. He announced Rs 25 lakh for construction of toilets in the town. He said that Indira Market would be maintained properly by providing adequate funds. He announced Rs 1 crore for development of internal road.
Chief Minister also inaugurated Synthetic Lawn Tennis Court at Mandi and Mandavya Nature Park in Mandi.
Chief Minister inaugurated Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme for Mandi Town from Uhl River in District Mandi under UIDSSMT programme of Government of India constructed by spending an amount of Rs 82.18 crore. This would provide drinking water facilities to about 47,000 population of the Mandi town. He laid foundation stone of augmentation of sewerage Scheme for Mandi town and providing sewerage facilities to adjourning villages of Mandi town to be completed by spending Rs. 68.57 crore.
Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Lift Water Supply Scheme from Water Treatment Plant Kangnidhar to Dudar, Bharoun in Gram Panchayat Dudar, Bharoun in Tehsil Sadar be completed by spending Rs. 86.39 lakh. He laid foundation stone of Warehouse for storage of EVM and VVPAT at Bhiuli to be completed by spending Rs 7.50 crore.
Chief Minister laid foundation stone of construction of Office-cum-Residential accommodation of Deputy Director Treasuries Inspection Central Zone Mandi at Khallyar Mandi to be completed by spending Rs 2.92 crore.
He also laid foundation stone of construction of Model Career Centre Building at Khallyar to be completed by spending and amount of Rs.2.36 crore. Chief Minister also provided free gas connections to the eligible families under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna.
Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated Joginder Gymkhana Club in Mandi, constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore. He said this Club was one the oldest Club of the State and was playing a vital role in providing an apt place for organising diverse activities to the people of Mandi town.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mohinder Singh said that Mandi district was fortunate to have Chief Minister for the first time since formation of the State. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur the State was fast forging ahead on the path of progress and prosperity and Mandi was emerging as a model district of the State. He said that the water supply scheme for the Mandi town would ensure twenty four hour water supply to Mandi town.
Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said that the Chotti Kashi Mandi has lot of expectations from the Chief Minister and expressed hope that the district would progress leap and bound under his leadership. He said that the Mandi district got ninth Cluster University of the Country and Government Medical College in the district.
MLA and former Minister Anil Sharma while welcoming the Chief Minister to his home constituency thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating developmental projects worth crores of rupees for the area. President Mandi District BJP Ranbir Singh welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion among others.
MLAs Rakesh Jamwal, Vinod Kumar, Jawahar Thakur, Col. Inder Singh, Inder Singh Gandhi, Hira Lal and Prakash Rana, Chairman MILKFED Nehal Chand Sharma, Chairman Wakf Board Rajbali, former MLAs D.D.Thakur and Kanihaya Lal, Chairperson Zila Parishad Sarla Thakur, Chairperson Nagar Parishad Mandi Suman Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rugved Thakur, Engineer in Chief IPH R.K.Puri were present on the occasion among others.
A senior journalist who has spent more than a decade in the profession, working for Amar Ujala and Aapka Faisla.
