Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth about Rs. 44 crore in Shimla Rural Vidhan Sabha area of Shimla district through video conferencing from Shimla today.The projects dedicated by the Chief Minister include building of Government Degree College, Dhami (16 Meel) constructed at a cost of Rs. 17.49 crore, additional building of Government Senior Secondary School, Rampuri Keonthal built at a cost of Rs. 1.11 crore, building of Government Senior Secondary School, Oukharu constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.95 crore and building of Government Senior Secondary School, Ougali built at a cost of Rs. 1.58 crore.Jai Ram Thakur laid foundation stones of Rs. 4.17 crore Gharog-Nalta link road, Rs. 5.41crore Baag-Kyalu link road and Rs. 1.90 crore Shaltu (Nehra)-Dargot Primary School to be constructed under NABARD. He also laid foundation stones of upgradation and metalling of Baag –Kangari (Gharatnala) link road to be done at a cost of Rs. 4.83 crore and upgradation and metalling of Basantpur-Naltu link road to be executed by spending Rs. 4.10 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.Chief Minister said that developmental projects worth about Rs. 41 crore were being executed in Shimla Rural Vidhan Sabha area during the present tenure of the State Government. He said that to facilitate the people of the area SDM Office and Block Medical Office was also opened in Sunni whereas Mini Secretariat building was constructed at Dhami by spending Rs. 6.66 crore. He said that ITI buildings were constructed at Dhargi and Sunni by spending Rs. 5.45 crore and Rs. 5.14 crore respectively.Jai Ram Thakur said that to redress the drinking water problem of the area work on Rs. 15.74 crore Garog-Ghandal water supply scheme from Sainj khad was in progress. He said that building of Government Senior Secondary School Shoghi has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 8.79 crore whereas bus stand at Sunni has been completed at a cost of Rs. 8.53 crore.
Chief Minister said the developmental projects dedicated to the area and foundation stones that were laid today were a befitting reply to those who allege discrimination towards the area. He said that all these projects would be completed within the stipulated time period. He said that Shaili Mata Temple would be developed from tourism point of view. Chief Minister said that he wished to interact personally with the people of the area, but due to the Corona pandemic only virtually interaction was possible. He said that although the figure of Corona positive in the State has crossed 1100 mark, but most of these cases were of those Himachalis who had come from other parts of the country.Jai Ram Thakur said that it was unfortunate that a few vested interests were politicizing even this sensitive issue. He said that timely initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about 21,000 deaths have been reported in our country due to COVID-19 as compared to over 5.51 lakh deaths reported in fifteen most developed countries of the world due to coronavirus. He directed the officers to ensure that the unspent money is optimumly utilized for developmental works. He said that the pace of development would not be allowed to be affected due to paucity of funds. Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has effectively fought the COVID-19 pandemic in the State which has ensured minimum cases of COVID-19 in the State as compared to most of the other States of the country. He said that rupees eight crore has been provided by the present State Government for the completion of this College building. He said that this educational infrastructure in the area would go a long way in providing quality higher education to the students of the area nearer to their homes. He said that the focus of the State Government was on strengthening of the existing infrastructure.BJP leader from area Dr. Pramod Sharma while welcoming the Chief Minister thanked him for laying foundation stones and dedicating developmental projects worth crores of rupees for the area. He also thanked the Chief Minister for being considerate towards the developmental demands of the area. Chairman Kailash Federation Ravi Mehta presented vote of thanks.Member of Parliament, Shimla Parliamentary Constituency Suresh Kashyap, Secretary Education Rajiv Sharma, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap were present on the occasion.