While addressing a mammoth public meeting at Banjar, in Kullu district today, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the Raghunath temple was not a private property of anyone as Lord Raghunathji was widely worshipped by people of the Kullu valley. He is chief deity of Kullu Dusherra, and people have unflinching faith in him, he said. He said that “We are all well wishers of royal family of Kullu but the formation of Trust was far better in the overall interest of the people of the valley”.Chief Minister advised that he himself never comes in palanquin on the shoulders of common man and hinted that even the Royal scion of Kullu family should understand this. The times have changed and we should respect the changing times. He said that the Raghunath Temple Trust was formed so that proper audit of the temple could be done, its security and proper upkeep be ensured. He said that the idol of Lord Raghunathji at present was placed in a small room and he wishes that there should be a magnificent temple of Lord Raghunathji in Kullu. The Government has no intention to take over the temple but was ever ready to spend enough funds on its maintenance and upkeep, he added.
He said that Bhimakali in Sarahan was also a temple in which he was a Trustee and it was not his private property. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that even Shri Maheshwar Singh should understand the importance of formation of Trust. He also stressed upon preserving the old temples of the State and that to in traditional architecture. He said that our lives revolve around our deities and they need to be conserved at all cost. Development and Preservation of culture and traditions should go hand in hand. He said that the Government had adequate funds for renovation and repair of temples provided they are constructed in old traditional architecture.He said that a ‘Directorate of Inspection’ was being constituted which would conduct sudden inspections and checks in schools to check that teachers were attending schools or remaining absent in far flung and remote areas. He also spoke against the grading system in schools and said that now proper exams would be held right from fifth class onwards so that the level of education imparted to the students could be assessed.He said that an amount of Rs. 773 crore had been spent on various water supply schemes during this period. As many as 6,949 additional habitations have been covered under rural water supply schemes and 4,887 hand pumps have been installed in water scarcity areas during last 45 months, he said adding that an area of 10,586 hectare has been provided irrigation facility at a cost of Rs. 400 crore.He directed to implement the orders given by the Government without any ifs and buts.
Announcements by Chief Minister
• He announced sub depot of HRTC at Banjar.
• Announced shifting of HPPWD division No 1, from Kullu to Banjar and Sub division Bali Chowki to be merged in Division 1, in place of Sub division Bhunter which may be merged in Division –II Kullu alongwith Sub Division Shat.
• He assured to consider shifting of IPH Division II from Shamshi (Kullu) to Larji.
• He also announced construction of Panchayat Bhawan at Banjar.
Virbhadra Singh said that development was a continuous process and Himachal has progressed a lot since its formation. When Himachal was formed there were only 288 kilometres of roads in the State which now were 37000 kilometres, he added. He said that over 1640 km new motorable roads and 160 bridges have been constructed during the last three and a half years of the present government and 306 additional villages have been provided road connectivity. There were merely 91 Health Institutions in the State which were now 3856, he said. The educational institutions particularly schools have crossed 15500 figure, and there were more than 115 colleges in the State, the literacy percentage which was 4.8 percent in 1948 was 88 percent as of now. He said that the per capita income at present was Rs. 1,30,067 which was Rs 248 in 1948. He said that the Government was committed to develop all areas of the State alike. He said that all the habitations of the State had been electrified and as of now we have received 100 percent electrification and the credit goes to the successive Congress Governments.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt Vidya Stokes while speaking on the occasion said that the State Government was spending a sum of Rs 2292 crore on drinking water supply and irrigational schemes in the state during current fiscal. She said that a sum of Rs 35 crore was being spent for installing hand-pumps in dry belts of the State.Smt Stokes said that the State Government has launched World Bank funded “Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project” with an outlay of Rs. 1,115 crore for strengthening horticulture sector. She added that ten Market Yards/Collection Centres have been established during this period by spending an amount of Rs. 27.45 crore. She said that in order to protect fruit crops, especially apple from hailstorms, the Government has enhanced the subsidy on anti-hail nets to 80 percent.
Ayurveda Minister Shri Karan Singh earlier welcomed the Chief Minister on the occasion and honoured him. He thanked him for inaugurating the combined office complex and also laying foundation stone of much awaited Banjar Sewerage Scheme and water supply schemes. He said that at present, work on 42 drinking water supply schemes was under progress in Banjar on which a sum of Rs 41.33 crore was being spent and a target of installing 26 hand-pumps has been fixed for 2016-17. In addition to this work on five irrigation schemes was also in progress on which an amount of rupees six crore was being spent and a sum of Rs 1.18 crore would be spent on these in financial year 2016-17. He said that till 31st March 2016, as many as 3582 habitations had been provided drinking water.The Chief Minister earlier inaugurated the combined building complex at Banjar completed with an outlay of Rs 5.60 crore housing all the offices under one roof, constructed by HIMUDA and also inaugurated Police Station office building completed with a cost of Rs 1.07 crore.
He also laid foundation stone of Rs 5.17 crore Sewerage Scheme for Banjar town, foundation stone of augmentation of Rs 1.97 crore Water Supply Scheme Dhoru-Ropa-Sharai-Tandi-Chethar.
The scheme will benefit a population of more than 2500 and foundation stone of up-gradation and augmentation of Water Supply Scheme Naglari to Gushiani at Banjar to cost Rs 1.06 crore to benefit population of 2535.Chairperson Zila Parishad, Ms. Rohini Chaudhary, DCC President, Kullu, , Shri Budhi Singh Thakur, General Secretary, PCC, Shri Sunder Thakur, BCC President Banjar, Shri Surinder Sharma, BCC President, Manali, Shri Bhubneshwar Gaur, President Mahila Congress, Ms. Vidya Negi, Vice-President , BCC Banjar, Shri T.C Mahant, Chairman APMC, Kullu, Shri Upendar Kant Mishra, President Youth Congress, Mandi Parliamentary Constituency, Shri Aditya Vikram Singh, w/o Ayurveda Minister, Dr. Shivani Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Hansraj Chauhan, were also present on the occasion amongst senior officers of the district and Panchayat representatives from all over the Banjar constituency.