Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that an amount of Rs 102 crore was being spent on construction of roads and bridges in the Chopal area of Shimla district. Besides, a provision of Rs 80 crore has been made under PMGSY for metalling and tarring of various roads in the area. He was addressing the virtual rally of Chopal BJP Mandal from Shimla today.The Chief Minister said that an amount of Rs. 9 crore was being spent on construction of community health centres at Nerwa and Kupvi. The state government was committed for balanced and equitable development of the state with special preference to those areas which have neglected so far, due to one reason or another.Jai Ram Thakur said that the state government has brought back over 1.95 lakh Himachalis stranded in different parts of the country, provided them food and shelter and mask and effective functioning of quarantine centres and has spent about Rs 13 crore on this. On the other hand the state Congress party has claimed before their Central leadership that they have spent Rs 12 crore on providing masks and food to the needy. The Congress leaders must clarify where they spent the amount, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State has suffered great loss due to the Corona epidemic. He said that the tourism industry was biggest causality of this virus. He said that steps would be taken to revive this sector. He said that the State Government has constituted a cabinet sub-committee and a task force to suggest steps to revive the economy of the State.Chief Minister said that the State Government has made adequate arrangement of marketing of fruits in this Corona epidemic so that farmers do not face any inconvenience. He said that the apple growers would definitely get better prices as exported apple would not be available this year. He said that he had taken up the issue of Nepali labourers with the Union External Affairs Minister. The matter of providing alternative market for marketing of apple at Azadpur area in New Delhi was affected due to Corona has also been taken up with the Prime Minister. Chief Whip Narender Bragta thanked the Chief Minister for evincing deep interest in protecting the interests of the apple growers in the present scenario of COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the Chief Minister has taken up the issue of allowing Nepali labourers to enter the State with the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh government. MLA Balbir Verma thanked the Chief Minister for giving special consideration to the developmental aspirations of the people of Chopal. -0-