Up-gradation of Sunni Hospital to 100 beds: Sukhu
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated the three-day district-level Dussehra festival at Sunni in district Shimla. He took the blessings of the deities on the occasion of Dussehra and wished for happiness and prosperity in the state.
While felicitating the people on Dussehra, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the up-gradation of Sunni Hospital to a 100-bed Hospital by making an ideal health institution and said that specialists will be appointed to facilitate the people of the area. He also assured that adequate funds would be provided for the construction of the Mini Secretariat and the opening SDM office in Sunni. The Chief Minister announced the opening of the Sub Division of HPSEBL in Shoghi of Shimla Rural Assembly constituency.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 18 development projects worth Rs. 174 crore for Shimla Rural Assembly segment. He dedicated Rs. 4.69 crore Government ITI Building in Jalog, Rs. 3.71 crore Home Guard building and Rs. 88 lakh Government Treasury Building in Sunni.
The Chief Minister laid foundation stones of Rs. 5.42 crore Kadharghat to Palag Serikadi road, Rs. 4.29 crore Mandhorghat to Jamog via Bhargav road, Rs. 5.14 crore Shimlaoh Mandhorghat Anu road, Rs. 11.75 crore Shananghati Dargi Sohal Katal road, Rs. 12.60 crore Jalog Gadheri road, Rs. 7.84 crore Baghar to Jagehdi road, Rs. 10.20 crore Khel Ka Chaura to Baggi road, Rs. 12.22 crore Rurga Gawahi Rangol road, and Rs. 6.64 crore Shari to Sanula road.
He also performed the foundation stone laying ceremonies of Rs. 50.56 crore Government Polytechnic Institute in Basantpur, Rs. 25.16 crore augmentation of the Sunni Water Supply Scheme, Rs. 2.65 crore Lift Irrigation Scheme (Phase-1) from Koldam to Shakrori, Basantpur, Pahal, Neot etc., Rs. 4.14 crore Lift Irrigation Scheme (Phase-II) from Koldam to Shakrori, Basantpur, Pahal, Neot etc., Rs. 3.72 crore augmentation of the Lift Irrigation Scheme in Ghaini and improvements to various old Kuhls between Sanaula and Nauti Khad at a cost of Rs. 2.04 crore.
He said that the previous government did not take into account the interests of Himachal Pradesh in power projects and added that the State Government will not allow anyone to misuse the State’s resources. He said that the state government took a strict stance and issued notices to SJVNL for starting the work of 210 MW Luhri Project Phase-1, 382 MW Sunni Project and 66 MW Dhaulasiddh hydropower project without signing the implementation agreement. He said that the LADA (Local Area Development Fund) fund was not deposited by the executing agencies for these projects and provision for GST and free royalty was also not made. He said that if SJVNL did not take care of the rights of the people of Himachal Pradesh then the state government would take over the projects allotted to them.
The Chief Minister said that the State suffered huge losses due to rain fury during the Monsoon season this year and everyone was stuck with pain as thousands of people were left homeless and it caused heavy losses to life and infrastructure of the State. In this drastic situation, the State Government has decided to provide a special package to help the disaster affected people. He said that the compensation being given to completely damaged houses has been increased from Rs. 1.30 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh. State government is providing free electricity and water connections and cement on government rates of Rs. 280 per bag for construction of houses is also being given. The affected families living in relief camps are being given assistance of Rs. 5,000 in rural areas and Rs. 10,000 in urban areas for rented accommodation.
Thakur Suhkvinder Singh Sukhu said that the State Government was working on war footing for rehabilitation of the affected people. The first installment of Rs. 3 lakh each has been given to the affected families of Kullu and Mandi districts to construct houses. He said that the state government has sent claims worth Rs. 12 thousand crore to the central government and urged them to release the funds to the State at the earliest.
The Chief Minister said that he and all the cabinet members remained at ground zero to accelerate the relief and rescue operations across the State during the disaster. He said that electricity, water supply, mobile and road services were temporarily restored in Kullu in a record 48 hours. Whereas BJP leaders remained busy in settling their political scores. He said that when a resolution was brought during the Vidhan Sabha session to declare it as a national disaster and demand for special relief package, the BJP did not support the people of the State.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the previous BJP government mismanaged the education and health sectors and opened 900 schools and health institutions without creating necessary staff and infrastructure. He said that the present State Government is focusing on providing quality education and specialized health services in the State. The government is opening one Rajiv Gandhi Government Day Boarding School in every assembly segment of the State to provide quality education. The State Government is initiating reforms in the State to bring the derailed economy of the State on track. He reiterated that Himachal Pradesh would emerge as the most prosperous state of the country in the coming ten years.
The Chief Minister said that he has an old association with people of Sunni as he had participated in a declamation contest. He announced Rs. 50 thousand to the students who presented cultural programme on the occasion.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that due to financial mismanagement by the previous BJP government, the State has a debt of Rs. 75 thousand crores. During the disaster, there was a loss of Rs. 12 thousand crores in the State and the Public Works Department had alone suffered a loss of Rs. 3000 crores. Despite that state government has provided a special relief package of Rs. 4500 crores. He thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating various developmental projects for the area.
Local resident Dinesh Chauhan contributed Rs. 51 thousand towards Aapda Rahat Kosh on the occasion
Shimla Rural Block Congress Committee President Gopal Sharma, Nagar Panchayat Sunni President Pradeep Sharma, Congress leaders Shama Devi, Prakash Kamal, Pradeep Verma, Chandrashekhar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.