Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today presided over the second day of MLA priority meetings and held a discussion over the developmental priorities with MLA's from Shimla and Mandi districts.
He urged MLA's to provide suggestions aligned with future challenges to ensure that the state become self-reliance. He said that MLAs play a key role in regional development and have strong grassroots representation.
He assured that their proposals would be prioritized in the state budget. Sh. Sukhu said that education and healthcare remains the core focus areas of the present government. Over the past two years substantial measures have been undertaken to enhance these sectors and the government was working for the further development of these sectors.
He said that the previous government only prioritized the opening of new institutions for political gains without providing adequate facilities, which has led to a decline in service quality. In contrast, the present government was actively modernizing the healthcare sector by integrating advanced technology and addressing staff shortages through ongoing recruitment drives.
He said that these initiatives would definitely yield positive outcomes in the near future. The Chief Minister further said that the government was fostering industrial growth while preserving the natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh by implementing progressive policy reforms.
The state was actively promoting tourism, dairy farming, IT and data storage, food processing and other environmentally sustainable industries. He also assured improvements to the Rohru-Chidgaon road and announced the allocation of funds for the Kurpan drinking water scheme, directing the Jal Shakti Department to complete the project by 30th April 2025.
He also instructed the Agriculture and Forest Departments to explore the potential for bamboo-based industries in Gagret. During the meeting, Kuldeep Singh Rathore MLA of Theog constituency expressed gratitude for the allocation of Three crore rupees for the ice-skating rink in Narkanda.
He advocated for road improvements through the construction of a tunnel to Narkanda and the development of the Narkanda-Hatu ropeway. He further remarked that, despite the lack of assistance from the central government, Himachal Pradesh continues to progress under the state’s leadership.
He said that the Union Budget failed to implement the anticipated 100 percent import duty on apples whereas the present state government have taken a revolutionary step of introducing universal cartons for apple which have fulfilled the long pending demand of the orchardists and have immensely befitted the growers.
MLA Rohru Mohan Lal Brakta commended the developmental efforts of the government and reaffirmed strong support of the Congress MLA's for the Chief Minister. He called for solutions to the persistent traffic congestion on the Kufri-Dhali road and sought increased funding for the development of the remote Rohru constituency.
He thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning Rs. 5 crore for the construction of a bridge at Jakha in Dodra-Kwar and urged the establishment of a Critical Care Centre in Rohru, the construction of bypass roads in Rohru and Chirgaon besides promoting of tourism activities in Chanshal.
MLA of Rampur Nand Lal called for stringent measures against drug-related activities in his constituency. He acknowledged the commendable efforts of the government in curbing the drug menace and said that several mafia networks had been dismantled due to the proactive efforts of the government.
He also requested the establishment of a vegetable market in Rampur, a trauma centre, an ITI in Sarahan and a sub-tehsil in Ganvi. He also expressed gratitude for the approval of a CA store in Duttanagar and advocated for the development of ropeways to enhance tourism in the region.
MLA Dharampur Chandershekhar said that the absence of BJP MLAs from the meeting was unfortunate and was a setback for Mandi district. He said that the BJP government was in a way deliberately neglecting the development proposals by remaining absent from the meeting and boycotting the same.
He called for government support in promoting bamboo cultivation, fish farming and sericulture. He further urged the development of Kamalah Fort as a tourist attraction and the use of bio-engineering techniques to prevent landslides.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, administrative secretaries, concerned Deputy Commissioners and HoDs of various departments were present in the meeting.