Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, today, laid foundation stone of ambitious Nadaun-Bhumpal-Jalari Medium Irrigation scheme for Nadaun, the biggest irrigation scheme in the district, estimated to cost Rs. 97.59 crore and to irrigate about 3,000 hectares (74,500 kanal) of farm land of 134 villages in 20 gram panchayats in the district.
Chief Minister appealed to the public to cooperate in accomplishment of various developmental activities taking place in their area and donate land for construction of roads and other institutions in their area. He said that the State Government had endeavoured to lessen the burden of price rise by providing essential commodities, domestic power and other facilities on cheap rates and spend hundreds of crores on providing subsidy. He said that BPL families were availing benefit of Rs. 890 and APL Rs. 525 every month on drawing subsidized essential commodities on ration cards. He said that free ambulance service under Atal Swasthya Sewa Yojna had saved many lives with efficient service and emergency treatment en-route to health institutions. He said that besides free institutional delivery and related medical tests, Rs. 700 were also being provided in cash for nutritious diet to mother and child. He said that free medical care was also available for one year to the mother and child.
Prof. Dhumal said that 3,700 kms. long roads and 268 new bridges had been constructed in the State and a history created on the development front in the State. He said that exhaustive exercise was on to connect different areas in the State with tunnels to reduce distances. He said that the State Government had carried development by rising above political considerations to ensure uniform development of the State.
Chief Minister said that the State was suffering heavily at the hands of UPA Government which had discriminatory attitude towards the genuine demands of the State and had drastically curtailed supplies of essential commodities i.e. rice, sugar, kerosene oil and cooking gas etc.. He said that compared to one kg. of sugar issued to every ration card holder during NDA regime the same had been reduced to only 550 grams by UPA government. He said that essential commodities were available on demand to the public and free ration was provided to poorest of the poor during NDA regime. He said that wheat valued at over Rs. 80 thousand crore was getting rottened in godowns but not provided to poor who were finding difficulty in making both ends meet due to the immense increase in prices. He said that UPA was showing reluctance in implementing the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to release arrear of share in BBMB HEPs. in the State.
Chief Minister sanctioned funds Rs. five lakh for various minor works in the segment. Earlier Chief Minister also dedicated 174th branch of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank to the customers in the area and named the same after late Rai Bahadur Miyan Man Singh, an icon in cooperative sector in the country. Chief Minister also listened to public grievances after the public meetings.
Ravinder Singh Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, thanked CM for laying foundation stone of ambitious irrigation scheme for Nadaun area and said that 2.52 lakh hectares of land had so far been brought under irrigation in the State. He said that first sprinkler irrigation scheme had also been dedicated to farmers of district Mandi while Shah Nehar and Siddhatha Medium Irrigation Schemes were nearing completion. He said that 90 percent population had been provided with piped drinking water facility compared to 65 percent at National level. He said that the schemes were ensuring 70 litres of water per person per day compared to the national norm of 40 litres per person per day. He said that Nadaun assembly segment had the highest number of hand pumps in the state and 400 bored during past four and a half years. He said that budgetary provisions for IPH activities had increased from Rs. 670 crore in year 2007-08 to Rs. 2,000 crore for current financial year.
R.S. Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, thanked Chief Minister for dedicating 174th branch of the bank to the people of Jalari area and remembered founder of the bank late Rai Bahadur Miyan Man Singh jee. He said that the branch had received deposits worth Rs. 2.38 crore on the opening day and was linked with core banking system. He urged Chief Minister to name the branch after Rai Bahadur Miyan Man Singh. He said that all bank branches were inter-linked with core banking system and 45 ATM were made operational. He said that the Bank had earned a net profit of Rs. 55crore and won Five National Level Awards.
Des Raj Sharma, President, District Hamirpur BJP thanked Chief Minister for his two-day sojourn to the district to dedicate and lay foundation stones of various developmental activities to add new chapter to the development history of the district. He alleged Congress for neglecting Hamirpur district during their regime when developmental activities had been stalled completely and it was only in1998 when renewed momentum was given to development by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal. He said that the IRB Bn. at Jungleberi was shifted overnight by Congress which was brought back by Prof. Dhumal and Rs. 70 crore was being spent on development of a sprawling campus for the Battalion.
Vijay Agnihotri, Vice President, District Hamirpur welcomed the Chief Minister, to Nadaun assembly segment and giving farmers of the area biggest irrigation scheme in the district which would benefit thousands of farmers in the area. He thanked for providing liberal funds for various developmental activities. He thanked Chief Minister for Dhaneta-Bangana motorable tunnel to connect Hamirpur and Una districts.
Baldev Sharma, MLA, Pyare Lal Sharma, Chairman, APMC and State President, BJP Kisan Morcha, Ajay Chauhan, Chairman, HIMCOFED, R.K. Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief, IPH, Rajender Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Madhusudan Sharma, Superintendent of Police, M.S. Kanwar, Chief Engineer, IPH, B.T. Negi, Chief Engineer, PWD, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.
