BJP pushed Himachal into financial crisis: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Launching a scathing attack against the previous BJP government for its wrong economic policies, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that every person in the State was reeling under a debt of Rs 92,840 due to the financial mismanagement of the previous  BJP government that has virtually pushed the State into economic misery.   

Addressing a large gathering at the industrial township Baddi, Chief Minister, announced sops for the Doon assembly constituency during his maiden visit to the assembly segment after assuming the office of the Chief Minister. Addressing a public gathering at Baddi he announced the opening of the Block Medical Officer (BMO) office at Baddi and Patwar Circle at  Jharmajri. Besides, the Chief Minister announced the opening of the Sub Divisional Magistrate Office at Baddi in Solan district from 1st October this year to facilitate the people of the area. He directed the concerned authorities to prepare the DPR of the Baddi bus stand. 

He said that the situation was so bad that it was difficult to meet the government’s expenses and the present government had to take a loan of Rs. 6000 crores to repay the liabilities taken by the previous government. He said that after becoming Chief Minister of the State he was making concerted efforts to bring the economy of the State on track by taking various prudent financial decisions.

The Chief Minister said that the present government was working on resource mobilization so that funds could be made available for undertaking various public welfare schemes.  He said that a water cess has been imposed on hydropower projects of Himachal Pradesh which will go a long way in improving the fiscal health of the State. He said that the present State Government has auctioned liquor vends of the State due to which a 40 percent increase in revenue has been recorded.

He said that the Government has started Mukhyamantri Sukhashray Yojna for 6000 orphan children of the State, to ensure the welfare of such children. Under the scheme, the government will bear the entire expense of higher education for orphans. Along with this, Rs. 4000 would be given as pocket money and the government will also bear the expenses of their exposure visit once a year.  He said that three biswas of land for building a house and financial assistance will also be given by the government to the orphans to build a house.

The Chief Minister said that loans are being provided to poor students at the rate of one percent for pursuing higher education so that no child is deprived of education due to a lack of resources.  He said that a provision has been made in the budget to provide financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh to ‘Ekal Nari’ for constructing a house. Apart from this provisions had been made in the budget to strengthen the rural economy.

He said that the State Government would provide a 50 percent subsidy for the purchase of e-truck, e-bus, e-taxi, and e-goods carriers which would make Himachal Pradesh the Green State of the country.  He said that to provide self-employment avenues to the youth of the State, a 40 percent subsidy will be given on setting up solar power projects from the capacity of 250 KW to 2 MW.

The Chief Minister said that a new investment policy was going to be brought to promote industries, which will benefit the industrialists as well as the people of the state. He said that the state government is making sincere efforts to tackle the drug menace and he had requested the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for enacting a strict law to combat this menace.

During the program, Shivalik Co-operative Housing Society Jharmajri presented a cheque of Rs one lakh to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu towards the Chief Minister’s Sukh Ashraya Kosh.

Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of five developmental projects worth Rs 22.30 crore in the Doon assembly constituency. 

The Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 5.16 crore bridge over Gamber khad on Baniya Devi-Bughar road at Bughar which will prove a boon for the people of Arki, Doon, and Kasauli assembly segments.

He also inaugurated the Women’s Police Station at Kalyanpur in the Baddi area constructed at a cost of Rs 3.33 crore which is a significant step towards women’s safety in the area.

 Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu performed foundation stone laying ceremonies of Rs. 11.44 crore 180 meters long double lane bridge over Sirsa khad on link road Haripur to Chunari, Rs. 1.50 crore cycle track on Sun-city Road in Baddi and Rs. 87 lakh Office-cum-Residence building of Assistant Engineer, PWD Department.

Earlier, a large number of people from Arki, Doon, and Kasauli assembly constituencies welcomed Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on his arrival at Kunihar helipad in the Arki assembly segment of Solan district

Welcoming the Chief Minister at Baddi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Ram Kumar said that Congress Government has always been considerate towards the development of the State.  He thanked the Chief Minister for the opening of the SDM Office and BMO at Baddi and other offices in the area.

Health and Family Welfare Minister,  Dhani Ram Shandil, PWD Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Sanjay Awasthi, MLAs, Vinod Sultanpuri, Suresh Kumar and K.L. Thakur, Chairman Zila Parishad Solan Ramesh Thakur, Vice-Chairman HP Small Saving Board Prakash Karad, DCC President, Solan, Shiv Kumar, senior Congress leader Hardeep Bawa,  and other senior Congress leaders were present on the occasion.