Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday inaugurated the five-day National Level Winter Carnival by offering prayers at Hadimba Temple in Manali. He also flagged off the Carnival Parade from the Circuit House, Manali.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of developmental projects worth Rs 41 crore.
While addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister said that keeping in view the importance of forests, the State Government is laying emphasis on expansion and strengthening of forest area. As many as 4,38,12,000 saplings have been planted during various Van Mahotsav organised during four years in the state, he said.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Bhekhli-Jindaud-Biasar road from Ramshila highway constructed at a cost of Rs 16.93 crore, Mari-Gadherni-Shaleen road constructed at a cost of Rs 3.97 crore, the bridge over Haripur Nalah constructed at a cost of Rs 1.78 crore, artificial rock climbing wall of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute Manali and Manali Range Office constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.
He said that with the construction of new bridges and roads in the valley, various places would be developed as tourist spots, which would boost tourism in the area.
Thakur further said that the rock-climbing wall would facilitate adventure sports enthusiasts and strengthen adventure tourism activities in Manali. The Beas Bihal Nature Park would provide a clean and beautiful natural environment to tourists, besides providing employment opportunities to the local people, he added.
The Chief Minister also announced Rs 2.50 crore for construction of bridge over Kathi Nallah, Rs 1.22 crore for bridge to be built in Grahan village among other projects.