Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday said Naina Devi-Sri Anandpur Sahib ropeway project conceptualised during previous BJP regime was not in the State’s interest as economically it was tilted more towards providing benefit to Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had, on Thursday, appealed to Virbhadra Singh to reconsider the scrapping order of ropeway project by HP cabinet. Badal had said keeping in view the socio-religious importance of both the States, HP Chief Minister should reconsider the project. Virbhadra Singh said the ropeway project has been scrapped and now under the new project, ropeway will be constructed within the boundaries of the state.
“In the earlier project, despite more contribution by HP it was benefiting more to Punjab instead of the State,” said Singh on the sidelines of the signing of memorandum of understanding between State Government and ESI Medical College, Mandi.
Virbhadra also showed concern over the cut down in apple prices and said apple growers of the State should also learn the prevalent marketing strategies. “It was due to the growers of the State that apple market crashed as apples which had bumper production this year, were brought to the market very early,” said the Chief Minister.
He, however, said for past few days, the apple price is recovering and hopefully the market will stabilise. “Congress Government will try to provide good marketing facility to the apple growers within the State, so that growers do not go to Chandigarh or Delhi for selling their fruits,” said Singh.
Singh added that at ESI medical college at Ner Chowk, Mandi, classes will start from session 2014-15 with 100 MBBS seats out of which 40 seats will be for Himachali students.