Sujan Singh Pathania, Power and Agriculture Minister has termed the budget presented by Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister as common man's budget and said that it would ensure welfare of all sections of society. He said that a provision of Rs. 270 crore had been made for providing subsdized electricity supply for domestic consumers which was a laudable step adding that that budget also contains provision for strengthening the distribution network for ensuring continuous power supply under which 66KV or higher capacity 20 High Voltage lines would be made functional by spending a sum of Rs. 207 crore. Besides, the decision on work of 55 distribution lines of 33KV capacity to be started during the next year would provide relief from low voltage problem to the people of the State.
The Minister said that a target of harnessing 1918 MW power capacity had been fixed for coming financial year which would provide employment opportunities to the youth, besides strengthening the economy of the State.Pathnaia said that 90 percent of the population of the State reside in villages and depends upon agriculture for their livelihood. He said that a decision of 85 percent subsidy on construction of polyhouses had been made which was a welcome step. He said that the proposal for starting Mukhya Mantri Adarsh Krishi Gaon Scheme was also a laudable decision under which agriculture development plan for 68 panchayats each from every assembly constituency would be made and Rs. 10 lakh would be provided for developing agriculture based infrastructure in the selected panchayats.He lauded the decision to bring additional 3000 hectare of land under vegetable production under Integrated Corp persification Yojna which would assist farmers in a big way besides bringing 2000 hectare of area under organic farming for which organic cultivation agency would be set up to provide organic farming certificate to farmers who adopt organic farming practices.