Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today reiterated the resolve of the State government for overall and speedy development of all the rural areas of the State with a provision of all basic amenities to the people nearer to their homes. He said that his government was endeavouring to provide best health, education and road facilities up to the farthest corners of the State and he himself had been extensively touring the entire State to know and resolve the problems of the people.Virbhadra Singh was addressing a public meeting at Kotla in Shimla rural constituency after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of various developmental works in the constituency.He said that Shimla Rural would be developed as a model assembly segment as various major development projects were under execution in this constituency. He said that two major irrigation schemes and three ITI’s were coming up here and a PWD pision had also been opened up to accelerate the pace of developmental works including upgradation and maintenance of roads.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Observation Home for Children in conflict with the law at Hiranagar in Shimla to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.4 crore. This would be the second Observation Home for such children in the State after the one in Una district. He laid foundation stone of Home for Mentally Retarded Children at Hiranagar which will be constructed by spending Rs.5.24 crore.
He also laid foundation stone of Primary Health Centre at Ghanahatti. This 12 bedded PHC will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 243.66 lakh. He laid foundation stone of Science Block of GSSS Ghanahatti and this four-story building will be completed at a cost of Rs. 241.15 lakh. He also performed foundation stone laying ceremony of Veterinary Training Centre at Ghanahati which will be constructed by spending Rs. 1.78 crores. Shri Virbhadra Singh inaugurated the Panchayat Meeting Hall at Kotla constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.40 lakh and also dedicated the Lift Irrigation Scheme for Sharog panchayat which has been completed by spending Rs. 73.72 lakh. The scheme will provide irrigation facility to 40.65 hectare of the are.He laid foundation stone of ITI Dargi, which will be the third ITI in the Shimla rural constituency to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 545.85 lakh. He also laid foundation stone of concrete bridge on Sainj khud on Simloh-Madhorghat-Dargi via Nagar road which will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 151 lakh.
He announced to connect Pahal and Bajhol with road facility and to run a private bus service up to Kotla. He said a Health Sub-Centre would also be opened at Kotla. He said that Veterinary Training Centre at Ghanahati will provide facilitate the agrarian community to know the technical advancements in rearing of livestock and awareness about breeding, feeding, marketing and management of livestock. Shri Virbhadra Singh asked the youth to come forward to derive maximum benefit of the Skill Development Scheme of the State Government which was aimed at skill development of the youth to enable them to adopt self-employment avenues as there were limited scopes for employment in the government sector. He also urged the people to carry on with their traditional occupation of agriculture and horticulture, as these sectors had vast potential for good earnings. Shri Anil Sharma, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Dr. Dhani Ram Shandil, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Shri Chandershekhar Sharma, President, District Block Congress. Smt Kusum Pant, President, Shimla district Rural Mahila Congress, Shri Ramesh Pant, a senior congress leader, Smt. Champa Devi, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Kotla, Shri T.G Negi, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner. Ms Madhublala Sharma, Director, Women and Child Welfare department, and prominent person of the area were also present on the occasion.