Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over the meeting of the Public Works Department here today, directed the officers to ensure the repair and restoration of roads damaged due to heavy rain and landslides in various parts of the State.
He said that priority would be given to roads of the apple growing belts so that produce of the growers could be taken to markets well in time. The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 23 crore for undertaking repair and restoration works of roads affected due to natural calamities.
He said that rupees five crore would be given for the repair of the road from Yashwant Nagar to Chhaila. Rupees one crore each would also be provided to seven divisions in apple growing areas of Shimla district to accelerate the restoration work in these areas.
A some of rupees one crore each to PWD divisions would also be given in all four blocks of Kullu district, Shillai and Rajgarh blocks of Sirmaur district where damage due to natural calamity was severe, he said. "I will shortly visit Chopal, Jubbal and Kotkhai areas to have an on spot review of the repair and restoration works being carried out in these areas", Sh. Sukhu said.
He directed the PWD officers to purchase machinery and deploy the same in the affected areas to clear the debris to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles. He said that there would be no paucity of funds for maintenance and repair of the roads and PWD shall commence all the restoration works immediately.
He also advised PWD officers to start online booking of PWD rest houses with advance payment. This practice must be followed by IPH also. The Chief Minister said that clause 10 CC would be removed so that the practice of escalation in the estimates of construction works could be stopped.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, CPS, Sanjay Awasthi, MLAs Chander Shekhar and Chaitanya Sharma, Principal Secretary Revenue, Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary PWD, Bharat Khera, Secretary Finance, Akshay Sood, DC Shimla, Aditya Negi, Engineer-in-Chief PWD, Er. Ajay Gupta and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.