Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, during the ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ celebrations to commemorate 75 years of state’s existence at Nachan on Sunday, inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 32 developmental projects worth Rs 165 crore in Nachan assembly constituency of Mandi district.

Thakur inaugurated Rs 3.72 crore lift water supply scheme Moviseri and adjoining villages of Gram Panchayat Seri, Rs 1.48 crore water supply scheme Dugrain, Kalash, Kandhole villages, Rs 94 lakh Devidarh Park, Rs 82 lakh Adhyatmik Vatika (MNREGA Park) Sakrini, Kamrunag, Rs 17 lakh veterinary dispensary Badhu, Rs 17 lakh veterinary dispensary Jayog, Rs 15.73 crore water supply scheme Gram panchayats Kanaid, Bhour, Dugrain, Chater and Jugan, Rs two crore water supply scheme Jaral Jugahan, among others.

Thakur, addressing the gathering, announced upgradation of 50-bedded Civil Hospital Gohar to 100-bedded hospital, upgradation of PHC Chowk to CHC, opening of health sub-centre at Chattar, opening of ITI at Hatgarh, starting of Science classes at Government Senior Secondary School Kutachi. He announced Rs 15 lakh for Mukhya Mantri Lok Bhawan in the constituency. He said that a few patwar circles would be opened in the area.

He said that the people of the State provided the present State Government wholehearted support and cooperation during this period. The present State Government, during these five years, ensured that every section of the society and every area of the State gets benefited by developmental policies and programmes of the State Government, he added.

Thakur said that celebrations to commemorate 75 years of existence of the State, was not going well with the Congress leaders. “The State Government was celebrating this occasion, to express its gratitude to the people of the State for their contribution in making Himachal Pradesh where it stands today. The Congress is a sinking ship and several leaders of the Congress are in touch with the BJP and would join the party anytime. The party which do not have its own guarantee is giving 10 guarantees to woo people of the State with an eye on polls,” said Thakur.

Stating that Himachal has made rapid strides in various sectors, Thakur said that at the time of state’s formation, there were only four districts whereas today, there are 12. “In 1948, the state’s literacy rate was 4.8 percent which has gone up to 83 percent. There were only 228 kms roads in the State in 1948, whereas today, there are nearly 40,000 kms roads connecting every nook and corner of the State. Major credit of this goes to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who started PMGSY with an amount Rs 60,000 crore as about 20,000 kms roads in the State were constructed under the PMGSY,” he said.

Thakur said that the present Government was spending over Rs 1300 crore annually on providing social security pension to the needy as compared to only Rs 400 crore spent by the previous State Government.

Chief Minister said that the Government’s resolve is too ensure ‘Mission Repeat’ by changing the tradition of not repeating the Government in power was not going well with the Congress leaders. “One Congress leader is even claiming that how can a commoner Chief Minister achieve this, when a six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh could not achieve,” he added.

Thakur urged the people to give befitting reply to these people by giving whole-hearted support to the present State Government to ensure that pace of development goes uninterrupted during the years to come.