State plan size for fiscal 2018-19 has been proposed for Rs. 6300 crore which is Rs. 600 crore more than last year an increase of 10.51 percent. This was announced by Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the MLAs Priorities meeting of MLAs of Solan, Sirmaur and Shimla districts held here today in the forenoon session.Chief Minister also announced increase for implementing works of MLA priorities under NABARD through Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). The MLAs can forward their recommendations for getting works done by PWD and IPH departments upto Rs. 90 crore. This ceiling was Rs. 80 crore earlier.Chief Minister in his address stressed his gratitude to Union Government for sanctioning Rs. 1351 crore for the proposed setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kothipura in Bilaspur district. He also thanked the Union Government for the PGI satellite centre at Una, costing around Rs. 450 crore. The 300-bedded PGI satellite centre in Una will help cater to the patients of the Himachal Pradesh belt at to their doorstep and in turn will reduce the rush of patients on the PGI providing quality healthcare facilities.He said that the process of hiring consultancy services for preparation of detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 69 National Highways as sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Road Surface Transport would be completed by 31st March this year and gave appropriate directions. He directed all the departments to take suitable steps to ensure implementation of centrally sponsored schemes.
The Government will take up the matter with Union Forest and Environment Ministry for enhancing the powers upto five hectares from existing one hectare, for giving clearances under Forest Conservation Act (FCA) for undertaking development works particularly the road projects which remain in limbo because of the complexity of FCA norms.He said improvement in air connectivity, Úday Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' (UDAN), a regional connectivity scheme phase-I and II by the Prime Minister and strengthening of road network in the State would help in promoting tourism. The issue pertaining to running of Sea Planes has also been taken up with the Union Government.The Government was committed for socio-economic uplift people of the State and believes in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. He said that the government intends to work on the lines of sustainable development goals framework and achieve the development targets by 2022.The Government will try to initiate measures to curtail the unproductive expenditure and will try to improve the economic health of the State. He also stressed upon quality improvement in education to take measures of creating more opportunities of employment and self employment. He also stressed the need for organic natural farming so that the farmers and horticulturists could be benefitted of the schemes.We are determined to provide clean, effective, transparent and responsive governance to the people of the State and will give added priority to information technology and e-governance so that the vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of 'Minimum Government and Maximum Governance' could be realized, said the Chief Minister.The Chief Minister directed all the departments to get the works of MLAs priorities done and get most of them sanctioned under on-going centrally sponsored schemes and invited further suggestions from MLAs.Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur presided over the MLAs Priorities meeting of MLAs of Solan, Sirmaur and Shimla districts held here today in the forenoon session.
District Solan
MLA from Nalagarh Assembly segment Shri Lakhvinder Singh Rana stressed for refurbishment and improvement of Nalagarh-Swarghat road on priority to facilitate the commuters and urged for upgradation of community health centre at Nalagarh and new health institutes in Changar area of Nalagarh. He also demanded PHC at Panjehra and Joghon.He also stressed upon the need to improve drinking water supply schemes and more facilities for the people in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) area. He said that there was shortage of staff in hospital at BBNDA area. He further demanded a police battalion at Baddi to maintain law and order as hardly there was a day when theft, robbery or murder did not take place in the industrial belt. He also demanded funds for construction of building of Government Degree College at Ramshahar.MLA also urged for increase in MLA Development Fund from existing Rs. 1.10 crore to Rs. 1.50 crore and discretionary grant from Rs. five lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
MLA from Doon Assembly constituency Shri Paramjit Singh (Pammi) urged opening of SDM Office at Baddi, upgradation of Primary Health Centre Baddi to Community Health Centre, Block Development Office at Baddi and increase the fleet and frequency of HRTC buses in rural areas of the constituency. He also supported the demand of Shri Lakhvinder Singh Rana for setting up additional police battalion at Baddi.MLA from Solan Assembly segment Col. Dhani Ram Shandil demanded sainik rest house at Solan and also advocated for sanctioning the remaining amount of Rs. seven crore for circuit house Solan as Cabinet did not approve the circuit house to be constructed yet the funds amounting to Rs. one crore was released. The Chief Minister assured that the matter would be placed before the Cabinet for discussing the same.Col. Shandil urged for completion of parking in Solan and stressed for recycling of sewerage water so as to make it available for irrigation purpose as the threat of global warming was looming large and there will be shortage of water in times to come.
District Sirmaur
MLA from Pachhad Shri Suresh Kashyap said that there were few water supply schemes which were constructed under pilot project through block and in the meanwhile these projects have run out of funds. He urged that such projects hanging mid way may be taken over by the Irrigation and Public Health Department. He also advocated for filling up the vacant posts of pump operators in the IPH department for smooth functioning. He also urged for construction of science block in government Degree College at Sarahan.Shri Suresh Kashyap urged for vacant posts of doctors and para medical staff in civil hospital Sarahan and other health institutions including CHC Rajgarh. He advocated for outsourcing the services of class IV for ensuring cleanliness in these institutions besides picking up security services.He also urged for identifying the scope for developing religious tourism circuits in his constituency and IPH division and fire station at Pachhad. On his demand for renovation of rest house at Bagthan, the Chief Minister asked for all the details pertaining to the condition of the rest house and assured that if need be additional accommodation would be made available in the rest house.
MLA from Sri Renukaji Shri Vinay Kumar also urged for promoting religious tourism. He said that the road condition from Solan to Meenas needs to be improved besides other roads leading to temples and shrines in his constituency. He said that detailed project report of the road from Nauradhar to Churdhar should be prepared at the earliest. Work on seven kms road from Nauradhar to Churdhar should be taken up on priority and on 12 kms walking trail till Churdhar may be developed by constructing pucca paths and rain shelters. He also said that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) should be asked to take action on the proposal for providing a pair of tigers in Renuka zoo. He said that there was a time when the tigers used to be the proud of the wild life sanctuary and attraction of many but as of today there is not a single lioness or tiger in the zoo. The matter has been taken up with CZA, he said. He also pleaded to exclude the area around Renuka shrine out of the sanctuary area so that it could be beautified and developed.On his demand, the Chief Minister however asked to enquire the status of health sub centre at Bharari.MLA from Paonta Shri Sukh Ram Chaudhary urged for completion of few irrigation schemes viz. Ajauli Naliawala, irrigation scheme upper kansipur scheme and lower kansipur scheme besides many other schemes awaiting completion for last 10-16 years. He said that the cost of the former scheme was initially Rs 1.72 crore which has now escalated manifold with 20 percent of the work remaining. The Chief Minister directed the department to see if they can use the funds under command area development for commissioning of pending irrigation schemes. He also demanded annual renovation of existing water supply schemes in his constituency and said that there were five canals of around 70 kilometers which should be provided annual funds for maintenance as they are in a dilapidated condition.
The MLA suggested for leasing out river beds of Yamuna and Batta rivers for extracting minerals from these rivers on the analogy of Uttrakhand which will earn revenue for the State exchequer. He said that since flooding every year can fill the minerals it would be no harm if we lease out the river bed pockets. He also urged for converting Paonta-Khodri Majri village road under major district roads and a bridge over Yamuna river which will provide inter connectivity to the border area.MLA from Shillai Harshwardhan Chauhan urged for improving water supply schemes in Shillai as the area is worst affected as far as drinking water supply is concerned. He said that Shillai had grown into a township with population of around 16500 at present. It needs to be upgraded to Notified Area Committee (NAC) so that the planned development could take place. He said that there were around 10-12 lift water supply schemes pending for the last many years may be completed at the earliest. On his request pertaining to lower the price of limestones in the State and reduce the taxes thereupon, the Chief Minister said that the government will look into the issue and take necessary action as why the limestones from outside being sold cheaper in the State. He said that there was a need to rationalize the tax structure particularly the additional goods taxes on transportation.The MLA also advocated for getting clearances for limestones quarrying under single window within 15 days as was being done by Uttrakhand State. He also urged for not relieving the employees from hard areas until his/her relievers joins.
District Shimla
MLA from Chopal Shri Balbir Verma lamented on poor condition of health institutions and shortage of men and machinery in Chopal and Nerwa. He said that there was no ultrasound machine in Chopal and Nerwa Hospitals. He said that there were no buildings of PHCs in Norrha-Dhora, Gumma, Basadhar, Pulbahal and all these PHCs were running in private buildings. Besides, there was no gynecologist in Chopal health institutions.He also urged for forest clearances of various roads particularly of Tailor Kiran road and the roads under PMGSY and NABARD which were pending due to forest clearances from last many years. He also urged for completion of 9-10 kilometers Jhiknipul-Madoug road which was hanging since last ten years. The Chief Minister taking cognizance said that the contractor would be penalized and strict action against him.He also urged for starting work on 66 KV Sub Station which would cater to 12 panchayats of the area besides early completion/tendering of 32 KV Sub Station Kupvi and 22 KV Sub Station at Nerwa. He said that the work on 16 lift water supply schemes were pending from last many years as despite the funds available the department purchased pipe and machinery instead of developing the source and rising main. The Chief Minister said that this should be looked into.He also demanded opening of Degree College at Kupvi.
MLA from Theog Assembly constituency Shri Rakesh Singha stressed upon micro level planning taking into consideration the socio-economic aspect. He said that the State will progress only when economy of the farmers was strengthened. He said horticulture and agriculture play a vital role in improving the economy of people and the Theog assembly constituency which he represents was known for vegetable whether seasonal or off seasonal.He said that under Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), it has been learnt that the apple import was being made duty free and urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with Union Government or get Himachali apple in special category and be excluded from this. He said that the fruits including apple from other countries have long shelf life and we need to focus on the latest root stock instead of adopting colonial practices. He also advocated for setting up more cold storage to benefit the farmers as private players they purchase the produce on running market price and store them in Controlled Atmosphere Stores to sell when the prices are high. He said that we also have to adopt the jack-well system, a conventional lift water supply schemes. He also urged for constructing sectoral water tanks of capacity as much as one lakh liters.He also urged bus stand at Theog.
MLA from Kasumpti Assembly constituency Shri Anirudh Singh demanded Lakkar Bazaar bus stand to be shifted to Dhalli and the Dhalli bus stand should be expanded. Expressing displeasure, he demanded a high mast light for Kasumpti bazaar but instead it was erected at Parimahal and urged for its immediate shifting. He also urged for construction of Navbahar Shanan road and early clearance of Gadechi. He also urged for a bridge over Giri khad at Lakhoti connecting Kasumpti and Pachhad area of Sirmaur district. He said that the foundation stone of this bridge was laid by former Chief Minister Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal, he also sought additional budget for Government Senior Secondary School Kayar koti. He also urged for preparation of DPR for IPH scheme Dhamechi and an IPH store at Kamyana. Besides completion of 66KV Sub Station at Kamyana, metalling of road from Mehli to Gussaan and a marketing yard near Fagu Curve.MLA from Shimla Rural assembly constituency Vikramaditya Singh urged for additional funds for college of fine arts and said that decision may be taken on construction of polytechnic college at Basantpur. He also urged for including his 3-4 municipal wards which were presently not benefitting from the Garog-Ghandal scheme in Shimla Rural. He urged to find way out so that people of these four wards could avail benefit of the scheme.
He also urged for Kadechi Tabog road and said that the High Court though had vacated stay sought by SJVNL yet the SJVNL authorities were not demolishing their structures and not providing possession. He also urged for completion of work on PHC Kohbaag, requested for utilizing the Kol Dam reservoir for water sports the new concept of sea planes to be introduced which would boost tourism activities and also urged for additional funds for improving the walking trail till the famous hilltop Shali temple.MLA from Rampur Assembly constituency Nand Lal urged for constructing a bridge across Sutlej River opposite Rampur bus stand which would be funded under LADA through SJVNL. He also urged for setting up trauma centre at Rampur at the earliest besides additional funds for engineering college Kotla and government Degree College at Jeori. He also advocated for construction of HPMC cold store near Nankhari.MLA from Rohru assembly segment Mohan Lal Brakta urged for Volvo bus service from Rohru to Delhi and pleaded for starting it initially from Kotkhai till the Kotikhai Hatkoti road is completed. He also urged for survey of road from Dodra Kwar to Pandaar, the last village of Kwar valley and the work on Gosango-Jaskoon-Jakha to be expedited. He also requested for parking at Rohru and Chirgoan and upgradation of CHC Sandasu besides bypass Chirgaon and vegetable yard at Samala.He also urged for expediting the work on 22 KV electric sub station Kansa-Kothi.
MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly constituency Shri Narinder Bragta urged for starting electrical engineering trade in Atal Bihari Vajpayee College, Pragtinagar to benefit the youth of the State. He demanded posting of specialists doctors and filling up vacant posts in the constituency and starting work on construction of bus stand at Kotkhai. He said that to facilitate the people of the area, SDM should be asked to sit for a week every month at Jubbal and Kotkhai. He also demanded to take effective steps for early completion of road projects under NABARD which were pending for many years.Bragta also requested for expansion and providing more facilities in Parala marketing yard, which was centre place for six districts of the State. He demanded to undertake serious efforts for declaring apple as special product and restarting the work on anti-hail gun project for benefit of the orchardists.Education Minister Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, Agriculture Minister Shri Ram Lal Markanda, Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rajiv Saizal gave their valuable suggestions in the meeting in the first session.Chief Secretary Shri Vineet Chawdhry, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Dr. Shrikant Baldi, senior officers of State Government were also present in the meeting.