Centre okays Rs 1131.87 cr projects for HP: CM

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is on a two-day visit to New Delhi for coordinating with various Ministries regarding various developmental projects, on Tuesday said that the Government of India has approved Rs 1131.87 crore projects for the State.

These include Rs 708.87 crore for Water Conservation Project for department of Irrigation and Public Health and Rs 423 crore Himachal Pradesh Integrated Mushroom Development project for department of Horticulture. Both the projects were approved on Tuesday by department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

Thakur said that State government had prepared the water conservation project for the state with the estimated cost of Rs. 4751.24 crore in order to double the farmer’s income through water construction initiatives. The first phase of the project is of 708.87 crore. The project will include construction of check dams, ponds, kuhl’s and other water harvesting structures. Both the projects were formulated by the state government in last three months and approved by the GoI in record time.

The chief minister said that Rs. 423 crore integrated mushroom development project would prove to be a milestone for the farming community of the State. The ambitious project would not only help in doubling the income of farmers but also provide employment and self-employment opportunities to youth in the state. 

MEETS HARSHVARDHAN FOR Rs  1125 CR PROJECT

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday met Union Minister for Science & Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan at New Delhi and requested for speedy approval of 1125 crore Natural Water Resources Management Project for the state.

He also urged for enhancing the power of state government to accord forest clearance from existing 1 hectare to 10 hectares for developmental works for non forestry developmental purpose and added that this would speed up the pace of developmental works in the state and reduce unnecessary delays.

He further apprised him that so far 13 items were exempted under this and requested to add construction of gaushalas and educational institutions to this list.

The Chief Minister also requested for according approval for three projects posed for funding under National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change worth Rs 57.75 crore.

Dr Harsh Vardhan assured to look into the demands sympathetically and said that every possible assistance would be provided with regard to approval of Natural Water Resources Management Project and issue related to forest clearance.

 He also agreed to consider the demand of the state government to allow compensatory afforestation on degraded forests for hydropower projects. Dr Shrikant Baldi ACS cum Principal Secretary to Chief Minister also gave inputs during the meeting.

CM URGES GADKARI TO NOTIFY 25 ROADS STRETCHES AS NH

Thakur also met Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and requested him to notify 25 road stretches of the state as National Highways and also urged for sanctioning developmental works for their up-gradation.

He informed the Union Minister that alignments of 25 stretches have been finalised and works on remaining 33 stretches shall be completed within fixed time frame.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was a hill state with unique geographical and topographical conditions and roads were the lifelines and solution to ensure equitable development.

The Chief Minister also demanded for intervention in resuming work on national highway from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk as it was the main road that leads to Kullu-Manali. He requested for taking up Pathankot-Mandi and Shimla-Mataour roads as four lanes keeping in view the heavy traffic on these roads.

Gadkari assured to look into the issues and directed the officers of the Ministry to do the needful and apprise him about the progress and feasible solutions. He also asked them to ensure constructions in a manner to reduce accidents in the hill state.