Dharamshala: The state grappling with a growing human-animal conflict, especially hordes of monkeys destroying agriculture crops, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in the Vidhan Sabha today announced a comprehensive plan to address the growing monkey menace in Himachal Pradesh.
He stated that 60% of the trees to be planted in state forests would be fruit bearing trees, that would reduce food scarcity that drives monkeys into human settlements. The remaining 40% would consist of other plant species. Responding to a question by Nahan MLA Ajay Solanki in the winter session of HP Assembly in Dharamsala on Friday , the Chief Minister revealed that 1.87 lakh monkeys have been sterilized so far. He acknowledged that stray dogs, Nilgai, and other stray animals continue to trouble residents in urban and rural areas. However, the government currently has no plans to construct dog shelters.
On healthcare, the Chief Minister addressed concerns raised by Karsog MLA Deep Raj regarding the lack of radiographers in hospitals despite the availability of machines. He assured that new recruitments for radiographers are underway and appointments would soon follow. Additionally, he highlighted an expansion in free medical tests offered at government hospitals, which now number 133 compared to 56 earlier. MLA Vinod Kumar, however, flagged discrepancies, claiming some tests were unavailable and urged the government to ensure smoother implementation.
In response to a question by Indora(Kangra) MLA Malendra Rajan, Soldier Welfare Minister Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil disclosed that 1,714 soldiers from the state have attained martyrdom since independence, with Kangra contributing 736 martyrs. The government has increased the ex-gratia for families of martyred soldiers from ?20 lakh to ?30 lakh, along with free travel in HRTC buses and other benefits.
Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri shared plans to bolster the state’s transport infrastructure. Speaking during the winter session, he announced the addition of 701 new buses to the HRTC fleet, including 327 electric buses, 250 diesel buses, 100 tempo travelers, and 24 Volvo buses. He emphasized that buses completing eight lakh kilometers or nine years of service are classified as having zero value, though well-maintained ones can operate for up to 15 years. Responding to concerns raised by Dharampur MLA Chandrashekhar about outdated buses in the Dharampur depot, he assured that newer vehicles would be allocated once available.
The question hour was eliminated in the first two days of the winter session due to discussion on rule 67.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
