While addressing a massive public meeting at Rewalser in Balh Assembly Constituency of Mandi district, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said that Himachal Pradesh was poised to become first State in the country to have gas connection in every household. For this, the government has started Himachal Gharini Suvidha Yojana under which gas stove and cylinder were being provided to houses deprived of gas connection.He said that steps had been taken for protecting Gau Vansh besides generating revenue for construction of Gau Sadans in the State. He said that Re. 1 cess had been imposed on sale of every bottle of liquor in the State for construction and maintenance of Gau Sadans. He announced that a Commission would be constitutedsoon for protection of Gau Vansh in the State.The Chief Minister thanked the people of Balh Assembly constituency for according him rousing welcome during his maiden visit to the area after becoming the Chief Minister of the State. He said the government was working with a sole aim of all-round development of the State. He said that it was after the long wait that Mandi district got the opportunity to head the State for which people of Mandi were thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah. With this opportunity, a lot of responsibility had been entrusted on the people of the district. He urged the people to give whole hearted support to the Prime Minister in the coming Lok Sabha elections.He said that the six month tenure of the present government had been filled with achievements and accomplishments. The Union government had taken a historic decision by increasing Minimum Support Price of 14 Kharif crops for welfare of more than 12 crore farmers of the country and it would go a long way in doubling the farmer's income by the year 2022. He said that some Opposition leaders were making much hue and cry regarding his Delhi visits, but after the State succeeded in getting Rs. 4365 crore central assistance, they were now left speechless.
Jai Ram Thakur said the State government had made some major decisions for the welfare of every section of the society. In its first cabinet meeting, the age limit of old persons for getting old age pension without income limit was lowered from 80 years to 70 years benefitting over 1.30 lakh people of the State. He said that first budget presented by the State government has 30 new schemes which was a record itself and even political adversaries appreciated the budget.He said that the State had been blessed with immense tourism potential but nothing had been done in this direction. It was for the first time that a budget provision of Rs. 50 crore has been made for tourism sector. The State government has decided to use the State owned helicopter as Heli Taxi for facilitating the tourists for three days a week. He said that he took up the case of construction of Airport in the State with the centre for which land had been selected and the Airport would be constructed in Balh Assembly constituency.The Chief Minister announced that Rewalsar would be developed from tourism point of view as it was a religious place for followers of three religions. He said that ADB project would be sanctioned for Rewalser to develop it in form of tourist circuit. He announced that Rs 42 crore water supply project had been approved for Balh by BRICS. He also announced that Mandi-Durgapur road would be improved and strengthened. He announced to give Rs. 10 lakh for construction of Kuhal in the area and upgradation of High School Chanwan Khabu to Senior Secondary school from next session. He also announced PWD Division for Balh so as to ensure better roads in the area. He announced a post of Chief Architect, PWD would be created for Mandi.
Earlier the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Galma bridge to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 crore and performed Bhoomi Pujan of Ropri to Khuddi road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3.39 crore under PMGSY and also laid foundation stone of CHC Building Rewalsar to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5.20 crore. He laid foundation stone of bridge over Gambhir Khud.Various cultural, social, religious and political organisations honoured the Chief Minister on the occasion and was given rousing welcome on his arrival enroute from Mani to Rewalsar.The Teachers and staff of Elementary Education department, Mandi presented a cheque of Rs1.30 lakh to the Chief Minister towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured wrestler The Great Khali by presenting him Himachali cap and shawl at Mandi and congratulated him for successfully organising The Khali Returns wrestling event in the State. The Great Khali also presented a memento to the the Chief Minister.MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma said that the Mandi district remained ignored in the Congress government's regime. The previous Chief Minister worked with an attitude of vengeance with the district due to his political differences with former Minister Pandit Sukh Ram. Today, the State in general and Mandi district in particular was blessed to have Jai Ram Thakur in helm of the affairs. He said that the State has prepared a new paper policy for optimum exploitation of the immense power potential available in the State and even the former Chief Minister has appreciated this initiative of the State government.
He said that Balh area had immense tourism potential and the Airport to be constructed in Balh would prove to be a boon in this direction. The efforts would be made to improve voltage problem of the area. He announced Rs 10 lakh to Balh Mandal for developmental works.Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said that the country was poised to emerge as the fast emerging economy of the world under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narinder Modi. He has that Mandi district had been honoured with Jai Ram Thakur heading the State. He said that a mega tourism project had been sanctioned by the Union government for the State. The ESI Hospital at Ner Chowk would provide specialised health services to the people of the area and Medical University would also be established at Mandi. He also thanked the Chief Minister for getting a National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology from the Centre for Mandi. He said that it was for the first time that the Minimum Support Price of 14 major crops has been enhanced by the Union government for welfare of the farmers.Local MLA Inder Singh Gandhi thanked the Chief Minister for dedications developmental works worth crores of rupees in his constituency. He urged the Chief Minister for PWD Division at Bahl for betterment of the area.President, Balh BJP Mandal Hem Pal Rana detailed about various developmental demands of the area.MLAs Col. Inder Singh, Vinod Kumar and Jawahar Thakur, OSD to the Chief Minister Shishu Derma, Deputy Commissioner Rugved Thakur, SP Gurdev Sharma were also present on the occasion among others.