Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the State Annual Plan of Rs. 5200 crore had been proposed for the State for financial year 2016-17 with an increase of Rs. 400 crore over present fiscal.He was presiding over the meeting of MLAs of Solan, Shimla and Sirmaur districts here today for the finalization of priorities for 2016-17 budget.He said with the consistent efforts of the State Government, the Government of India had restored the funding for core centrally sponsored schemes in the ratio of 90:10 and the State would give priority to get funds for the priorities of the MLAs under grant based programmes of the Union Government.With a view to avoid unwanted delays in preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs), the State Government had made provision in the present budget for preparing DPRs on outsource basis, he said.He said the Skill Development Corporation had been set up in the State and in principle approval had been granted to RS. 640 crore scheme for implementing various skill development programmes.The Chief Minister announced to enhance the maximum limit for sending DPRs to NABARD from Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 60 crore per assembly segment from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
Shri Virbhadra Singh directed the departments to give utmost attention to the priorities of the MLAs. He also asked to hold routine joint meetings of officers of PWD, Forest and Revenue departments to ensure quick approval of road projects. He also directed for proper maintenance of old irrigation schemes and hand pumps.He directed the authorities concerned to ensure that people construct proper septic tanks and they have proper sewerage connectivity in urban areas failing which their water and electricity connections should be seized.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil suggested adopting solar electric power fencing project of Kerala State to tackle stray animal menace in the State. He said that this model could prove to be very effective in avoiding losses to horticulture and agriculture produce.Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Rohit Thakur, who represents Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency, urged the Chief Minister to relax the norms of specifications of mettaling of roads in the snow bound areas to ensure better road conditions. He demanded to release funds to APEDA for construction of three CA stores sanctioned for the State at Chamba, Patlikuhal and Kharapatthar.He also requested for making provision of funds for construction of Tikkar college building and relaxing the norms of snow bound areas in filling up the posts of teachers through School Management Committee (SMC).Shri Thakur requested to start the work at the earliest on Rs. 52 crore irrigation project in the constituency.
Solan District
MLA from Arki Constituency Shri Govind Ram Sharma demanded to expedite work on various irrigation and drinking water supply schemes in his constituency. He said I&PH department should explore possibilities to construct dams for providing irrigation facility to the farmers. He also demanded early preparation of detailed project report for setting up Transport Nagar keeping in view the high intensity of traffic in the constituency.He urged for filling up vacant posts of doctors and teachers and construction of building for GSS Loharghat and Baghar, besides upgrading Dharyach and Lagdadhar schools to plus two level.Dr. Rajiv Saijal, MLA from Kasauli demanded to revive old Parwanoo to Kasauli trekking route of the British period which would give new dimension to the tourism activities in the area.He requested for broadening of Gambar bridge and repair of Dharampur to Kasauli, Dharampur to Subathu via Kanda and Dharampur to Subathu roads. He also listed various roads to be constructed on priority basis in his constituency.
Sirmaur District
MLA from Pachhad constituency Shri Suresh Kumar demanded SDM office for Sarahan and early completion of building for Rajgarh college. He demanded early preparation of DPR’s for improvement of Bagthan-Rajgarh-Chandol, upgradation and maintenance of Solan-Meenas and Sarahan-Chandigarh roads.He also urged for filling up of vacant posts of doctors and junior engineers in I&PH department. He also demanded increase in MLA’s fund.Dr. Rajiv Bindal, MLA from Nahan suggested preparing a scheme in advance for providing relief to farmers and horticulturists who were already facing challenges due to drought-like situation. He demanded to enhance the funds for repair and maintenance of roads and to direct transfer of funds to the departments released under schemes approved by the NABARD.He raised the demand to complete the work of replacement of pipes of Nahan water supply schemes and providing inter-state connectivity to the road leading to Suketi Fossil Park.Dr. Bindal also requested for opening of sterilization centres in every Vidhan Sabha constituency to effectively tackle the stray animal menace.MLA from Shillai assembly segment Shri Baldev Tomar demanded repair of Lal Dhank to Rohru road and passing of few roads in the constituency which were ready to use. He urged for separate IPH division for Shillai constituency and opening of college at Ronhat.He also demanded a depot of State Transport Corporation at Paonta Sahib and filling up of vacant posts in various departments. He also requested for increase in MLA’s Fund.
Shimla District
Shri Balbir Verma, MLA from Chopal demanded college for Chopal, ITI at Kupvi, Police Thana at Deha and up-gradation of Nerwa Sub-Tehsil to Tehsil level. He urged for release of funds for construction of building of CHC at Kupvi and five other PHCs, to expedite work on repair and maintenance of Sarahan-Pulwahal and Kupvi-Chopal roads, broadening of Sainj-Fedazpul road and to construct new building for GSSS Sarahan.MLA from Kasumpti constituency Shri Anirudh Singh requested for proper sewerage system in Shimla town and to complete Mehali-Panthaghati sewerage line project at the earliest. He raised demand for release of funds for providing sewerage connectivity to Ragain, Lambidhar colony, Vijaynagar and GSSS Bhattakuffar.He also demanded repair of Baldeyan-Khatnol and Dhalli-Suni roads and separate college for girls at Malyana.
Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA from Shimla raised the demand for starting up the work on new water supply scheme for Shimla town, keeping in view the rising demand of water in the State Capital which was also a favourite tourist destination. He also demanded for modernization of all sewerage plants of the town. He demanded for more parking slots and taking other effective steps for making Shimla town congestion free. He requested for shifting Sabzi Mandi to Darni Ka Bageecha to decongest the town.
Shri Bhardwaj also demanded for taking effective steps to tackle with the problem of stray dogs in the town.Shri Mohan Lal Brakta, MLA from Rohru constituency demanded for opening of office of the Town and Country Planning at Rohru and to start the work on construction of newly announced Sabzi Mandi. He urged for expansion of parking facility in Rohru bazaar and to replace the buses provided under JNURM with the smaller ones which were more suitable in the hilly areas.Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Nand Lal and Shri Vinay Kumar, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board Shri G.R. Musafir, Chief Secretary Shri P. Mitra and senior officers of the Government attended the meeting.