Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth Rs 80.60 crore in Bhoranj Vidhan Sabha area of Hamirpur district.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the public meeting in Bhoranj Vidhan Sabha area is the first public meeting being held by him after a gap of about seven and a half months due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Chief Minister said the pandemic has forced us to completely change our lifestyle. The use of face masks and maintaining social distancing has become vital to check the spread of this virus, he said.
Thakur said that the government is ensuring the pace of development does not get affected due to the pandemic.
The Chief Minister said that the opposition leaders were doing politics even during this crisis. They made a hue and cry that the State Government was doing nothing to bring back lakhs of Himachalis stranded in different parts of the country. Now when the government has brought home about 2.50 lakh people of the state from various parts of the country, the same Congress leaders were alleging that the State Government has threatened the lives of lakhs of Himachalis by bringing back these people, he added.
Elaborating about the projects dedicated to the people in Hamirpur, the Chief Minister said that strengthening and upgradation of Lagwalti-Bamsan lift drinking water scheme would provide better drinking water facilities to 144 villages and 215 habitations of the area, thereby benefiting about 64,000 people of the area.
He said that the Malian-Sadriyana lift water supply scheme on completion would benefit over 23,000 people of about 67 habitations of the area. Apart from this, the construction of bus stand at Bhoranj would meet the long pending demand of the area.
Thakur said that special focus has been laid on development of Hamirpur district. A budget provision of Rs 80 crore has been made for construction and maintenance of roads in Hamirpur.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of pride that Himachal Pradesh had become the first smoke free state of the country as about 2.80 lakh free gas connections have been provided to the needy households.
He said that the ‘HIMCARE’ scheme has been launched to provide rupees five lakh health care cover to the families not covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojna of the Union Government. Rs 3000 per month were being provided to families with chronic ill patients under the Sahara Yojana.
Mukhyamantri Swawlamban Yojna has also been launched to provide financial assistance to the youth to start their self employment ventures, he added.
Thakur also directed the officers to ensure time bound completion of all the projects foundation stones of which were laid by him on Monday.