The State Government was committed towards all-round and balanced development of the State and special emphasis would be given to those areas which had remained neglected during the previous BJP tenure. This was stated by Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh while addressing a mammoth gathering at Jalog in Seeraj area of Shimla district today after laying foundation stone of ITI complex at Jalog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 363.62 lakh. Earlier, he also laid foundation stone of Lift Irrigation Scheme from Parlog khad to Ogli and Baghi to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 140.57 lakh and of Government Senior Secondary School building, Ogli to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 126.67 lakh.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that this was his first visit to the area after becoming representative of Shimla Rural assembly constituency and Chief Minister for the sixth time. While thanking the people of the constituency for electing him as their representative, he said that he would make all efforts to come up to their expectations and aspirations. He said that a Special Constituency Cell has been established in the Chief Minister's office for ensuring speedy disposal of issues pertaining to the constituency.
Chief Minister said that the present State Government has completed less than five months of its tenure, but had taken numerous steps for welfare of the State and its people. He said that the State Government had succeeded in approving Rs. 22,800 crore under the 12th Five Years Plan, which was 65 percent higher than the previous five years plan. He said that this was the record increase and highest in the country. He said that an Annual Plan of Rs. 4100 crore would be spent during the current financial year. He said that the State Government was ensuring that the paucity of funds do not come in way of development of the State so that Himachal Pradesh could become the developed State of the country in the next five years.Virbhadra Singh said that the State Government had decided to provide free travel facility to school children from home to school and back home in State transport buses. He said that this decision would motivate the students to devote their time for studies.
Chief Minister said that on completion the Lift Irrigation Scheme from Parlog khad to Ogli and Baghi, would provide irrigation facility to 75.75 hectares of area. He said that this would encourage the farmers to cultivate cash crops and supplement their income. He said that the State Government would launch Integrated Crop persification Programme to bring additional 3000 hectare areas under cultivation of vegetables. Chairman, Block Congress Committee, Rural Shri Chander Shekhar Sharma while welcoming the Chief Minister thanked him for laying foundation stones of developmental projects worth about Rs. Seven crore.
Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Jalog Smt. Shashi Bala proposed vote of thanks. President, Block Mahila Congress, Shimla Rural Smt. Kusum Verma, Shri Kewal Raj Verma, Shri Jagdish Verma and Shri Hari Kishan Verma also spoke on the occasion.
Chairman, Zila Parishad Shri Chandreshwar Prasad, President Shimla District Rural Congress Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, PCC Member Shri Pradeep Verma, Advisor to Chief Minister Shri T.G. Negi, Deputy Commissioner Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Superintendent of Police Shri Abhishek Dullar, Director, Technical Education Shri Vijay Chandan and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.