Discusses MLA priorities with MLAs of Solan, Chamba, Bilaspur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held discussions with MLAs from Solan, Chamba, Bilaspur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts during the second session on the first day to discuss MLA priorities for the financial year 2026-27. He said that the state government has made a budget provision of Rs. 758.81 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for the financial year 2025-26.
He directed departments that if any Detailed Project Report (DPR) of MLA priority projects sent to NABARD for approval under RIDF has already been approved under any other head, the concerned department should immediately inform the Planning Department in writing so that the DPR can be withdrawn from NABARD and records can be reconciled without delay.
The Chief Minister said that the state suffered heavy loss of life and property due to intense rainfall and cloudbursts in 2023 and 2025. He said that the state government provided adequate financial assistance for relief and rehabilitation from its own resources.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that for the welfare of the people, the government has identified health, education, rural economy, tourism, energy, food processing and data storage as priority sectors. He said that to provide quality healthcare close to people’s homes, modern facilities such as robotic surgery, State Cancer Institute, DSA, advanced testing laboratories, bone marrow transplant apheresis units and PET scan machines have been installed.
He said that robotic surgery has been started in the first phase at AIMSS Chamiyana and Tanda Medical College and in the coming time, this facility would be made available in all medical colleges. He said that a PET scan machine would be installed at IGMC Shimla within two months and at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda within six months. He added that 3-Tesla MRI machines would be installed in all medical colleges in the state within the next three months.
The Chief Minister said that improving healthcare was the top most priority of the present state government and Rs. 3,000 crore would be spent on high-end medical technology over the next two years.
He said that along with health, major reforms were also being implemented in the education sector. He announced that 140 CBSE schools and four Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools would be opened. He said that to ensure safe drinking water, modern ozonation technology would be introduced for water purification in the state’s drinking water schemes.
Sh. Sukhu said that the present state government was emphasizing good governance. Over the past three years, 5.70 lakh mutation cases have been done and 80 percent of revenue correction would be made by 31 March.
Solan District
MLA Arki Sanjay Awasthi said that roads in his constituency were badly damaged during disasters and requested adequate funds for their repair. He said that denial of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) to Himachal Pradesh by the Central Government was unjust and it would cause an annual loss of Rs.10,000 crore to the state. He said that the state has been deprived of its constitutional rights. Despite this, he thanked the Chief Minister for organizing meetings on MLA priorities.
MLA Nalagarh Hardeep Singh Bawa said that the foundation stone for bridges constructed with amount of Rs.14 crore was recently laid by the Chief Minister and about 80 per cent of the work has already been completed. He said that work on roads to be constructed by spending Rs. 66 crore was underway in his area and would be completed soon and benefit the people of the area. He demanded installation of 20 tube wells and opening of a Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School at Nangal.
MLA Doon Ram Kumar thanked the Chief Minister for providing five major offices in his constituency, including SDM and BDO offices. He said that roads in his area were also badly damaged during disasters and requested funds for their repair. He urged early commencement of the ISBT Baddi project and sought budget allocation for construction of the SDM office building in Baddi.
MLA Kasauli Vinod Sultanpuri expressed gratitude for approval of all priorities from the previous year, stating that this has led to the start of works worth Rs. 200 crore in his constituency, benefiting the people. He demanded strengthening of the road network and healthcare services in the area.
Chamba District
MLA Churah Hans Raj demanded that the construction work of government office buildings in his constituency be expedited. He urged for better healthcare services at Tissa Hospital. He said that the Churah Assembly constituency has immense potential for tourism and it should be developed, which would create employment opportunities for local people. He also demanded the launch of heli-taxi services in Chamba.
MLA Bharmaur Dr. Janak Raj raised the issue of construction of the Holi-Utrala road.
MLA Chamba Neeraj Nayyar said that the state government has provided Rs. 6.33 crore for the construction of a mini secretariat in Chamba. He demanded additional funds to complete the building. He also urged to expedite the construction of drinking water schemes in the area. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for providing four crore rupee for preparing the DPR (Detailed Project Report) of the Chamba-Chuwari tunnel.
MLA Dalhousie D.S. Thakur said that the roads in his constituency were badly damaged during the disaster and funds should be provided for their repair. He urged that FCA clearances for various projects be expedited. He also demanded improvement in healthcare services in the area.
Bilaspur District
MLA Jhandutta Jeet Ram Katwal raised the issue of constructing irrigation and drinking water schemes in the Jhanduta Assembly constituency. He urged that the construction of approach roads to three bridges in his area should be sped up.
MLA Bilaspur Trilok Jamwal demanded that after the completion of the ongoing sewerage construction work in Bilaspur, the roads should be properly paved. He also urged that tourism activities be promoted at Govind Sagar and Kol Dam. In addition, he demanded a scheme to protect farmer’s crops from stray animals.
MLA Shree Naina Devi Ji Randhir Sharma urged that the formalities for 35 roads approved under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana be completed at the earliest. He demanded strengthening of the Navgaon-Bagha road. He also sought funds for the construction of the Naina Devi Civil Hospital building and urged that the construction of the ICU building in Naina Devi be expedited.
Lahaul-Spiti District
MLA Lahaul-Spiti Anuradha Rana urged that the Lahaul-Spiti Assembly constituency should be connected with heli-taxi services. She pressed for the construction of the Kunzum Tunnel. She demanded relaxation in hotel registration conditions in tribal areas to promote tourism activities in the region. She expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister for providing five specialist doctors in her constituency. She also demanded strengthening of the roads in the area.
Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta presented the vote of thanks. Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar welcomed all dignitaries to the meeting.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission Bhawani Singh Pathania, along with administrative secretaries, department heads and senior officers were present on the occasion.
