•BJP leaders should ask Uttarakhand about its concerns: CM
•Country’s first allied healthcare college to open at Karandola in Nadaun
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while speaking about the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project agreement, said that the Congress government had firmly worked to protect the interests of Himachal Pradesh and that the credit for the agreement also goes to the people of the state and the Congress government. The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting organised at Rail in the Nadaun Assembly constituency of Hamirpur district today.
The Chief Minister said that BJP leaders Anurag Singh Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur should seek clarity from Uttarakhand regarding its concerns over the project. He said that he had the opportunity to understand the concerns of the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He said that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh had ensured that the state’s interests remained protected otherwise the people of Himachal Pradesh could also have faced an economic burden similar to that being faced by Uttarakhand. He said that under the Kishau project, Himachal Pradesh would receive benefits of around Rs. 1,500 crore without any additional investment, while Uttarakhand would have to invest around Rs. 3,000 crore to generate a similar amount. He said that the cost of the project, which was estimated at around Rs. 800 crore five years ago, had now increased to between Rs. 3,000 crore and Rs. 5,000 crore. He added that a larger area of land in Uttarakhand was also being affected by the project.
Sh. Sukhu said that after the Congress government came to power in the state, three important meetings were held regarding the Kishau project and the present Congress government ensured that the interests of Himachal Pradesh remained protected and that the state received its full rights. He said the trust and confidence of the people of the state remained with him and it was with their strength that he strongly presented Himachal Pradesh’s case. Uttarakhand also wanted an agreement similar to that of Himachal Pradesh, but this could not happen there. He said the state government was firmly pursuing the rights of Himachal Pradesh and expressed hope that the BBMB arrears would also be received by the state soon.
The Chief Minister said the previous BJP government had caused damage to the state’s resources, while the present Congress government had fought against corruption. He said the Wildflower Hall case, which had been pending in court for the last 23 years, was won by the state government in the Supreme Court. He said this had brought Rs. 401 crore into the state exchequer and was generating additional income of around Rs. 2 crore per month. He said, 'As long as I am the Chief Minister, I will continue to fight for the people. We will not bow down to any temptation.'
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government had strongly pursued cases related to the interests of Himachal Pradesh in the courts. He said the matter regarding an additional six percent royalty from JSW had been pending since the previous BJP government. After the Congress government came to power, the High Court decision in the matter was challenged in the Supreme Court and the present state government won the case. He said this had resulted in additional annual revenue of around Rs. 150 crore for the state.
He said the state government had increased revenue by auctioning liquor shops. During the previous BJP government, liquor shop licences were renewed, whereas the present government adopted the auction system and received around Rs. 450 crore in revenue, compared to around Rs. 150 crore earlier.
The Chief Minister said the state government had held detailed discussions with doctors and faculty members to improve the health sector. He said the major medical colleges in the state had MRI machines that were around 19 years old and that the diagnostic system was also in poor condition. He said that during the previous BJP government, only around 35 percent of staff positions were filled in medical colleges, whereas the present government had filled posts of doctors, technical staff and paramedical staff, taking staff availability to around 60 percent. He said appointments of medical officers and specialist doctors were being made in model health institutions and steps were being taken to strengthen the diagnostic system in health institutions across the state. He also alleged irregularities in the Himcare scheme during the previous BJP government and said that bills had come to light showing uterus removal operations in male patients.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that along with health, improving education was also a priority of the state government. He said that in 2021, during the BJP government, Himachal Pradesh ranked 21st in terms of quality education, whereas after three and a half years of the Congress government, the state had reached fifth position. He said Himachal Pradesh had also achieved the status of a fully literate state. He said CBSE schools in the state would prove to be an important step towards providing quality education. Teachers in these schools were being appointed on the basis of merit.
The Chief Minister said BJP MPs and MLAs had failed to effectively raise the issues of Himachal Pradesh with the Central Government. He said that during the disaster, no BJP MP or MLA had approached the Central Government to demand adequate assistance and the legitimate rights of Himachal Pradesh. He said the Prime Minister had announced assistance of Rs. 1,500 crore for Himachal Pradesh, but the state had not received a single rupee so far.
He said the annual assistance of Rs. 8,000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore received by the state under the Revenue Deficit Grant had also been stopped. He said the state government had provided the Old Pension Scheme to its employees and would continue with it. He said other employees would also be given the benefit of OPS in the future. He said the state government was under pressure to implement the Unified Pension Scheme, but the government would remain committed to OPS as it was linked to the dignity of employees. He said that as Chief Minister, he was making efforts every day to take decisions that would help Himachal Pradesh become self-reliant. The government’s goal was to move towards making the state self-reliant by 2027.
Sh. Sukhu said efforts were underway to establish an AIIMS-level Ayurvedic institute in Hamirpur district. Himachal Pradesh had submitted its bid for the institute and he expressed hope that the state would receive it. He announced that the country’s first Allied Healthcare College would start this year at Karandola in Nadaun. He also said that new-age courses would be introduced in polytechnic colleges and ITIs so that students could receive modern education and better employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister thanked the people of the Nadaun Assembly constituency and said they did not need to worry about anything. He said the people of Nadaun had always given him immense love and support and that it was because of this support that he had reached the position of Chief Minister. He said the coming election would be about the rights and interests of Himachal Pradesh and that the people would support the Congress government.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a public health camp at Rail and also participated in a plantation drive. He inaugurated the Primary Health Centre building, Rail constructed at a cost Rs. 2 crore. He also laid foundation stones of Government Senior Secondary School, Rail to be constructed at a cost Rs. 2.10 crore and additional block of Government Industrial Training Institute Nadaun at Rail to be built with an outlay of Rs. 9.43 crore.
Congress leader Dr. Pushpender Verma, Vice-Chairman Himachal Pradesh OBC Finance and Development Corporation Dr. Mohan Lal, Block Congress President Prithvi Chand, Deputy Commissioner Gandharva Rathore and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
