Sukhu urges Centre to rehabilitate Himachal residents displaced by recent natural disasters
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Central Government to extend its support in rehabilitating those who lost their homes and land during the recent natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh.
Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor, Naresh Chauhan, while addressing the Media today in Shimla said that during a meeting in New Delhi, the Chief Minister has appealed to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, to allow the state government to allocate at least one bigha of land per affected family. Given that 68 percent of the state’s land is categorised as forest area, it is proving to be a significant challenge for the government to relocate people to safer areas. He said that the Chief Minister has also requested for permission to provide at least five bighas of land to small and marginal farmers and orchardists so they may earn a respectable livelihood through cultivation.
Naresh Chauhan further said that the state government was doing its best to support apple growers in transporting their produce to the markets. He appealed to farmers to ensure that only good-quality apples are sent to the mandis, as better quality guarantees better prices. The government is procuring the remaining stock through HPMC and other agencies at the rate of Rs. 12 per kilogram under the Market Intervention Scheme.
Responding to allegations made by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur about an alleged lottery deal, Sh. Chauhan dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated. He challenged him to present concrete evidence if he believes there has indeed been any wrongdoing. The Leader of Opposition should speak with accountability and provide details such as which the alleged deal was made with and whether any officials or ruling party members were involved. Merely floating such accusations for political gain, without proof, is both irresponsible and misleading.
Clarifying the government’s stance, Sh. Chauhan said that the decision to launch a state lottery was made by the Cabinet and it will be conducted online. He said out that several BJP-ruled states have long operated lotteries and people from Himachal also participate in them. If BJP leaders have objections, they must first explain why lotteries are being run in states governed by their own party. He questioned the moral stand of BJP leaders.
Speaking about organisational matters, Sh. Chauhan said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is currently holding a review meeting in Delhi to assess the performance of the Himachal Pradesh government over its two-and-a-half-year term. The meeting will also focus on the reorganisation of the state Congress body. The formation of the HP Congress Committee has been delayed due to recent natural disasters in the state. He expressed hope that a new president and executive committee would soon be appointed and will ensuring better coordination and leadership within the party’s state unit.
