Himachal Pradesh spends Rs.384.63 crore on 10 Road Proiects says CM

Himachal Pradesh spends Rs.384.63 crore on 10 Road Proiects says CM

Filed Under: Himachal News by ih

Nov.26, 2010

Shimla: Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was one of the front runner State where World Bank had approved ten road projects. He said that entire load transporting men and material rested exclusively upon road network and there was no other alternate facilities available in the State.Chief Minister said that Rs. 384.63 crore were spent on projects upto November, 2010 under which Rs.139.84 crores were spent on upgrading works, Rs. 4.13 crore on utlity shifting, Rs. 7.96 crore on compensatory afforestation, Rs. 97.06 crore on periodic maintenance, Rs. 27.40 crore on consultancy services and training, Rs. 106.85 crore on land acquisition and Rs. 1.39 crore on relief and rehabilitation. He was presiding meeting to review the progress of World Bank Funded Himachal Pradesh State Road Projects here today.Prof Dhumal said that the State Government had got road projects sanctioned for funding by the World Bank includes Una-Barsar, 45 kms.; Barsar¬-Jahu, 45.8 kms. Jahu-Kalkhar, 15.390 kms.; Ranital-Kotla, 39 kms.; Kumarhatti¬ Sarahan-Nahan, 71.74 kms.; Draman-Sihunta, 24 kms.; Bhawama-Jaisinghpur¬ Lambgaon, 26.28 kms.; Mehatpur-Una-Amb, 45 kms.; Theog-Kotkhai-Rohru, 81kms.; Sarkaghat- -Ghumarwin; 42 kms., thereby totalling road length of 480 kms.. He said that major road projects had been awarded for execution to multi-national road construction companies by the World Bank where quality road construction work of world standard was being ensured.He directed the departmental authorities to monitor the progress of the road projects and ensure that all such projects were completed by the targeted date. He said that the department also needed to carry regular meetings with regard to road upgradation progress. He said that strict quality control needed to be adhered to by the supervising authorities so that every penny of the public money was utilized. He said that efforts needed to be made complete all such road projects ahead of its scheduled date and dedicated to the people of the State.Chief Minister also directed the authorities to take up Theog-Kotkhai-Rohru road project on priority for completion on which Rs. 23.94 crore had already been spent and would be completed by December,2012. He also directed the authorities to ensure that in the widening process and environmental safeguards must be ensured.He said that the road length had increased to about 31 thousand kilometers in the State and every gram panchayat had been targeted to be connected with motorable road by the year end. He said that the State was upgrading its main roads to accommodate increasing pressure of vehicular traffic.

Himachal CM Announced To Provide Free Medicines To Poor Families

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has announced to provide free medicines to poor people below poverty line (BPL).

Under the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay scheme, the families below poverty line would receive 38 medicines free of cost from the government hospitals.

BPL Security Yojna aims to cover around three lakh BPL families.

The government has already launched Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna or national health insurance scheme to provide insurance cover of Rs 30,000.

According to reports, the government can increase the insurance coverage upto Rs 1.75 lakh, and a sum of Rs 11.5 crore for treating people with serious ailments.

In addition, Rs 6 crore has been sanctioned for better infrastructural facilities to tourists in Paonta Sahib, and Renuka areas of HP and adjoining Yanumanagar area in Haryana.

Mr. Dhumal said that New India Insurance Company will provide insurance under the scheme.

Media passing through credibility crisis: Himachal CM

Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Tuesday said the media is currently passing through a credibility crisis and asked journalists to discharge their duty through responsible reporting.Healthy criticism of the government is encouraging but biased reporting erodes credibility, Dhumal said while addressing the media here.’Paid news has undermined the credibility of media. Such stories are misleading and harming the interests of the common man. There is a need to protect the people’s right to unbiased information,’ he said.’Mediapersons should continue to discharge their duties towards society with dedication, commitment, responsibility and by maintaining neutrality in stories with a positive attitude,’ the chief minister added.Dhumal said there are many journalists who have earned name and fame through effective reporting and the readers always look for their news stories.’Such mediapersons are assets to society and source of inspiration to the other journalists,’ he added.