The State government is according added priority for the speedy development of the backward and hard areas of the State to ensure their development at par with other areas. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stated this today while addressing a public meeting at Chowari in Bhatiyat assembly constituency of Chamba district. Earlier, he laid foundation stone of 10.400 kms long Patka-Hathi Dhar road to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 516.11 lakh. This road would benefit more than one thousand population of Druma census village along-with ten other sub-villages. He also laid foundation stone of remodeling of flow irrigation scheme for Chowari at Trimath. The scheme would be completed by spending Rs. 421.76 lakh benefiting people of Chowari Nagar Parishad and Kuthar and Jatrun villages. The Chief Minister said that he was on three day tour of Chamba district to supervise the developmental projects and redress the public grievances at their door-steps. He said that the Congress governments had always given preference for over all development of Chamba district which consists of remote and tribal areas and during last one year the district had witnessed speedy development.
Virbhadra Singh said that with consistent efforts of the successive Congress led governments, the State today had emerged as a role model of development in the country. He said that Congress Party was the oldest party in the country which was synonym of development. He said that the Congress led UPA government had launched various ambitious schemes and the State government had been front runner in implementing all these schemes to benefit the common man. Blaming the BJP for indulging in misleading the people for sake of political mileage he said that they were even misusing the name of Sardar Patel who was a Congress leader. He said that BJP MLA's boycotted the budget session of H.P Vidhan Sabha which points out that they were not concerned about the welfare of the State and people they represent.
Asha Kumari, MLA, said that present State government under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh had taken path breaking initiatives to ensure welfare of every section of the society. She said that five thousand functional posts would be filled up in different departments during next financial year. She said that Himachal Pradesh had started subsidized ration scheme much ahead then announced by the government of India by making a provision of Rs. 175 core which would now be increased to Rs. 250 crore. Shri Chander Kumar, former MP, said that the State had witnessed all round and accelerated development since the present government came in to the power. He said that every section of the society had been benefited with the various schemes and programmes of the State government. He said that with the implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme, thousands of ex-servicemen would be benefited in the State.
Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chairman, State Pollution Control Board thanked the Chief Minister for laying foundation stones of developmental projects of more than ten crore in the Chowari area. He said that Chowari was area had the maximum area under irrigation the credit for which goes to the congress government. He said that 13 schools had been upgraded in the Bhatiyat constituency during last one year. Shri Onkar Singh Chambyal, President, Bhatiyat Block Congress welcomed the Chief Minister while Shri Manoj Mahajan, General Secretary, presented the vote of thanks. Shri Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice Chairman, State Forest Development Corporation, Shri Ranjeet Singh Bakhsi and Shri Gandharav Singh, Ex-MLA's, Smt. Santosh Kumari, Chairman, Chowari Nagar Parishad and other prominent person of the area were present on the occasion.