CM: long term plan drawn up for speedy development of HP

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that a long term plan has been drawn up for speedy development of the State, where the air connectivity was not satisfactory, roads’ conditions were abysmal and the rail network was not expanded over the past seven decades.

“No wonder thousands of lives were being lost in road accidents. Hardly a day passes without reports of accidents,” said the Chief Minister, while addressing a press conference at the local circuit house.

He said that due to the absence of poor rail, road and air connectivity, an ambitious plan has been chalked out under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for starting heli-services, developing ropeway-network with the help of Switzerland to make a quick beginning to harness the vast tourism potential of Himachal Pradesh.

Thakur said that many panoramic and snowy spots had already been identified for attracting tourists from home and abroad to enhance the income of the state, which is still reeling under economic crisis even after seven decades of independence.

He said that tragically Himachal Pradesh, which had been bestowed with tremendous potential of hydel power generation, tourism potential, high altitude lakes, snowy peaks and dense forests had been abandoned to starve since independence.

The maxim of Darwin “Survival of the fittest” had  been allowed to operate with impunity and the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan had virtually devoured the development and prosperity of the backward hill state, said he.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that the entire net profit of the BBMB (Bhakhra and Beas Management Board), which ran into crores of rupees daily was shared by the three  states despite the fact that the entire investment had been made by the Centre in the shape of loan and subsidies.