Himachal Pradesh government has asked the Centre to provide rail connectivity to Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir via Manali and Bilaspur as it was important from the "defence point of view."
"China has reached near Himachal border. Tibet is under the control of China...In view of such circumstances, we have raised this matter strongly before the Centre which has principally accepted (our point)," Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told reporters here.
He said it was essential from the "defence point of view" that there should be rail connectivity starting from Chandigarh via Bilaspur, Manali in Himachal till Leh and Ladakh.
I expect the Centre will move forward in this direction, Thakur said.
"Rail connectivity could not grow in the state the way it should have. We stand where were as far as rail connectivity is concerned. A sum of Rs 400 crore this year has been earmarked for strengthening railway network," he added.
To a question on expanding airports to boost tourism in the state, Thakur said it was not technically possible to expand the Shimla airport because of the terrain. As far as Kullu airport is concerned, the cost of constructing a bridge on Beas river for expansion of the airport was very high, he said.
However, the state was ready to allot more land for expansion of airport in Kangra, Thakur added.
To a question about alleged misgovernance during previous Congress regime, the chief minister said his government had found irregularities in some departments and was seeking required information to take appropriate action.
However, he said there was no point in taking step in cases pertaining to previous CM Virbhadra Singh as they were already in the courts.
The BJP government does not believe in indulging in political vendetta, he said.
Thakur said his government had decided not to hire "tired and retired" men, stating that thousands of retired persons were deployed in the government departments by the previous regime.
He asserted his government was committed to the state's development and listed many new initiatives including mobile app 'Shakti' for women's safety, Gudiya helpline, Hoshiar helpline, social security pension for elders.
He informed that money mobilized from 15 per cent of temple offerings and rupee one per liquor bottle would be used for 'Gau Sadans'.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)