Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurated the three day long State level Hamir Utsav by lighting the lamp and leading the ceremonial procession to perform Pooja at Shiv Temple to begin the Fair at Hamirpur today.
On arrival at Mela ground, he inaugurated exhibition stalls put up by Government, Non Government and Public Sector Undertakings and various other voluntary organizations. He went around the stalls and evinced keen interest in exhibits displayed in the exhibitions. Chief Minister also released the souvenir on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister announced that the 4 per cent VAT being charged on CSD items would be reduced to 2 per cent in order to facilitate serving solders and ex-servicemen. He said that a CSD depot was being setup at Una which would provide much relief to the ex-servicemen. He said that since its formation, Hamirpur district has made tremendous progress in all spheres of development.
He said that Hamirpur has distinction of being the most literate district of the State. He said that it was during his tenure as Chief Minister that celebration of Hamir Utsav was started. He said that Hamirpur district also has a very large number of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen who are rendering great services towards development of the State.
Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur and Chairman Mela Committee Ashish Singhmar welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries on the occasion.
Industries Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Jagjivan Pal, Chairman, 4th H.P. State Planning Commission, Kuldeep Kumar, MLAs, Sanjay Rattan, Yadvinder Goma, Ajay Mahajan, Pawan Kajal and Manohar Dhiman, Chairman, KCCB Jagdish Sipahia, Chairman Ex–serviceman Corporation, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Bikram Singh, Vice Chairman KCCB Kuldeep Pathania, Director KCCB Anil Verma, Advisor to Chief Minister T.G. Negi, IG P.L. Thakur, Superintendent of Police Veena Bharti and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
