With the Himachal Pradesh Government completing 100 days in office, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday listed the achievements of his Government and said the State will soon formulate new policies on power and mining.
Emphasising that steps have been initiated to boost the hill State's tourism potential, Thakur said, "We will soon bring a new mining policy to ensure more revenue and end illegal quarrying. The policy is in the final stages of preparation and will have penal provision of jail for two years and fine up to Rs 5 lakh for offenders".
He said a new policy to facilitate tapping of hydro-electric generation would also be formulated. He also said that the Government will act tough against corruption and a lokayukta would soon be appointed.
"Hundred days is too short a time period to perform or evaluate the performance of any Government. But we have initiated immediate steps to give direction to the State. The results will come in times to come," he said.
"We have tried to focus our policies on all sections—farmers, fruit growers, women, the senior citizens. We have simultaneously launched 30 new schemes," he added.
Thakur said the State Government will have a clear focus on tourism promotion as well. "We have allocated funds for development of tourism infrastructure in the State," the Chief Minister said.
"As much as Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for maintenance of roads and Rs 50 crore for promoting unexplored tourist destinations. We have set 472 targets on the basis of a public feedback and fixed time frames to achieve them," he added.
Thakur also said that other initiatives included reducing the age for social security pension from 80 to 70 years, granting monetary benefits to employees and pensioners, ensuring women's security and mobilising funds for water supply schemes despite the state's debt of Rs 46,500 crore.
Describing the States financial situation a major challenge, Thakur said besides curbing wasteful expenditure, the Government has been very circumspect on appointment of chairmen/vice chairmen of boards and corporations.
On the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), he said all aspects would be studied, but no decision on this has been taken yet.
"The Government scrupulously avoided expenditure on new vehicles. Unlike the previous Government, we did not purchase new vehicles and drastically reduced expenditure of renovation of houses of Ministers and other dignitaries," the Chief Minister said.
"A target-based roadmap has been prepared and the Government would follow it vigorously and paucity of funds would not be allowed to come in the way of development," he said.
Asked to comment on the performance of his Ministers, Thakur said the entire Cabinet was working as team and he would give full marks to every Minister.