The much awaited demand of the people of Pangi Valley of Chamba district for HRTC Sub-depot was finally fulfilled today as Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh dedicated the same to the people besides performing the foundation Stone laying ceremony of Rs 5.30 crore new Bus Stand at Killar. He also flagged off Bus service from Killar to Sural Bhatori. He directed the PWD authorities to complete the construction work of new bus stand within the stipulated time period. The new Bus stand will have the facility of waiting lounge, Canteen, Police assistance room, Cloak room, crew rest room and a separate waiting room for ladies.
Later, while addressing a massive gathering at Kala Kendra, Killar, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the Government would ensure filling up of vacant posts of Doctors in the valley. The government will ensure that the doctors and specialists complete their full term in such areas, he added. He said that the government would start science classes in various senior secondary schools as per the norms taking into consideration the strength of the students.
In order to strengthen the health infrastructure in the State, the Government was setting up three medical colleges in Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba districts for which a provision of Rs. 189 crore each had been made. Besides, an AIIMS like institution was coming up in Bilaspur, which would provide quality health services to the people, he added.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that all the left-out villages in Pangi valley would be connected by roads. He assured to provide the requisite heavy machinery to the PWD department to accelerate the pace of road work in the Valley. He said that two hydel projects Larsen and Toubro (L&T) of 266 MW and 449 MW of TATA company were being commissioned in the valley where employment should be ensured to the local people, he added. “I will see that the youth of the area were given employment in these projects as per the norms of providing 70 percent employment quota to the youth of the State”, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister said that he had traversed almost every part of the area on foot when the valley was submerged in deep snow. “ I have myself seen that the people of the Valley had to face many hardships and the area was inaccessible by roads”, he said adding that after the creation of office of Resident Commissioner during the Congress regime way back, the area slowly started treading on the path of development. He said that there were more than 66 Primary school in the valley today besides over half a dozen high and Senior Secondary Schools.The Chief Minister said that government was endeavoured to connect every area of the State with road facility. He added that there were just around 300 kilometers of roads in the State during its formation and today the road length in the State was more than 35000 kilometers.
Virbhadra Singh said that the government was committed to provide subsidised ration to the people. As the rates of the pulses have increased manifold, yet the government, by bearing the losses therein, will provide subsidised ration to the people, he added.The Chief Minister released the first issue of quarterly magazine ‘Sewa Surlehri, Ek Kadam Ghati Ki Aur’ on the occasion.The Chief Minister said that the adequate finances would be provided for maintenance of Kala Kendra Ground. He announced a sum of Rs 15000 for the school children for presenting cultural programme.Forest Minister, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries to his assembly segment. He said that it was the Congress Party, under the leadership of Shri Virbhadra Singh, which gave due importance for the development of tribal areas of the State. He said that numerous educational and Health institutions have been opened in Pangi valley. He said that there was a great demand of tunnel below Chehni Pass which was cleared in the recently held cabinet. He asked for reconsidering the Detailed Project Report and adding that the DPR needs to prepared from near Mindhal Mata Temple in the Valley to near Devikothi on the other side of the Pass towards Tissa.
He said that the Saach Pass (14050 ft) could not be opened for Vehicular traffic due to the very reason, which was hampering the movement of men and machinery to and fro Saach Pass connecting the valley with district headquarters. He urged the Chief Minister to give necessary directions for providing modern equipments and machinery for snow clearance and removing the blockades due to glaciers in the valley.State Youth Congress President, Shri Vikramaditya Singh said the Land Acquisition Bill, which was earlier brought out by the UPA, was presented in completely amended form by the BJP Government at the Centre to benefit few industrialists and big houses. He said that the Congress would certainly keep opposing the same in the better interest of the farmers of the Country. The Government has decided to open Skill Development Corporation so as to create opportunities of employment to the youth of the State, added Shri Vikramaditya.He said that that the State government was according priority to provide all basic facilities to the people of the tribal areas and was committed to expand educational institutions in far-flung and tribal areas.
Resident Commissioner Pangi, Shri Inder Bhardwaj, presented a cheque of Rs 2,52 lakh to the Chief Minister towards CM Relief Fund on behalf of all the Government employees serving at Pangi.Earlier, Member Tribal Advisory Committee, Shri Ramcharan Rana and President Block Congress Committee, Shri Devendar Shyam also spoke on the occasion and tabled their demands, the main being status of sub-Tehsil for Pangi and the tunnel below Chehni Pass to connect the tribal belt of Pangi with District Headquarters, Chamba. They also demanded up-gradation of various schools including filling up the vacant posts in various departments. Member Tribal Advisory Committee, Shri Kishan Chopra, Member, Zila Parishad Smt Meenakshi Thakur, Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti Ms. Amardei Kanta, President GP Killar, Shri Satish Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Shri V.C.Pharka, were also present on the occasion amongst senior officers of the district and Panchayat representatives from different parts of the Valley.