Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced depositing one time tax to be paid by tractor owners for purchasing tractors for agricultural purpose. He also announced abolition of land ceiling for purchase of tractor for agricultural purpose, which was 20 Kanal earlier and one time waiving off the pending arrears and taxes of tractor owners. The Chief Minister made these announcements while launching the State level Welfare Scheme for women registered with Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board during a function held at Khad village in Haroli constituency of Una district. He also distributed washing machines to the women and said the washing machines would be distributed all over the State in phased manner under the scheme.
He also announced Helipad and PHC at Beetan in Haroli.The Chief Minister said that the Congress Party believes in overall development and was committed to equally develop all regions of the State by rising above the narrow considerations.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna, (PMGSY) or any other Central scheme, it was obligatory for Union government to provide State’s share for development. Besides, over and above the land belongs to the State and it was the right of the State government to either lay foundation stone or inaugurate the centrally sponsored projects. He said that the Central government can claim ownership of land in Union Territories. He said that it was the duty of the Union government to ensure progress of the states equally. He said that instead BCCI President should work for strengthening State-Centre relations. It is pertinent to mention that sitting Member of Parliament Shri Anurag Thakur from the region also performed the Bhoomi Pujan of the said road from Panjawar to Bathri just to take credit though the road required strengthening from Nagnoli to Ispur.He advised Shri Anurag Thakur that instead of concentrating on inaugurations and taking credit of the States share, he should rather fight for and take up the matter for release of funds for the Swan River Channelisation, which was withheld by Union Government since long. He said that if Shri Anurag Thakur was a true benefactor of the people of the area, as Member of Parliament, he should take up the pending works and grants which were hanging at different levels in union ministries. The Chief Minister welcomed the recommendation of Lodha Committee which was tightening its noose around the office bearers of the State Cricket Associations holding office of profit and the administrative body of ever rich Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI).
He said that he welcomes the decision of demonetisation of currency by the Central government, but Rs. 2000 notes should have been made such that it would have been compatible with ATMs. He said that black money was a standing blot and should be wiped off completely, but the Union Government should have worked on all ifs and buts before introducing the currency besides other technicalities which were now posing problems to the people.
Industries Minister, Shri Mukesh Agnihotri thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating projects worth Rs. 38 crore in his assembly constituency. He also presented a cheque of rupees five lakh towards CM Relief Fund to the Chief Minister. The Minister listed development of Haroli constituency which has become a model constituency of the State and credited the development of the same to the Chief Minister. He thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating civil hospital and laying foundation stone of college building in his constituency. He also urged for making few amendments in ‘Mukhya Mantri Khet Sarankshan Yojna’ to provide subsidy for fencing of fields on 80:10 or 90:10 ratio.He urged for spending around Rs. 100 crore under the scheme till march to benefit the working class under the Board. He also urged for providing other household items as Mixer juicer etc to the women and supported the demand of Bawa Hardeep Singh, Chairman, Construction Welfare Board, for enhancing the amount for marriage and death of workers registered with the Board.He also demanded for levying one time cess for tractor owners and waive off their pending taxes. He also urged for Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Beetan and Helipad in Haroli and an indoor stadium at Saloh in Haroli.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 9.00 crore three storey Civil hospital building besides Modern Rural Health Research Centre within the campus of civil hospital at Haroli completed with an outlay of Rs. 1.60 crore.He also laid foundation stone of Government Degree College at Khad to cost Rs. 12.25 crore. The Chief Minister performed Bhoomi Pujan of Nagnoli-Ispur road. The amount to be spent on strengthening and improving the existing road surface will amount to Rs. 10.27 crore.Baba Hardeep Singh said that as many as 1100 washing machines would be distributed to the women registered under the Board. He also urged to enhance the token amount for marriage of two issues of the families registered under the Construction Welfare board from Rs. 25 thousand to Rs. 51 thousand in near future and also to enhance the sum given for natural and accidental death from Rs. 50 thousand and Rs. one lakh to Rs. 2 lakh each respectively.Chairman, HP State Finance Commission and MLA Chintpurni, Shri Kuldeep Kumar, MLA, Gagret cum Secretary AICC, Shri Rakesh Kalia, District Congress President, Shri Virendar Dharmani, BCC President, Haroli, Shri Ranjeet Rana, Chairman MC Una, Shri Amarjot Singh Bedi and senior officers were also present on the occasion amongst others.