Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inspected the progress of development work in Mandi and the high-altitude constituencies of Nachan, Seraj and Karsog valleys of the district. On a five-day tour, he also laid the foundation of a dozen of projects. The Chief Minister had to bear the brunt of bad roads and could not conceal his “anger and anguish” against the PWD officials and warned them against their casual and negligent attitude towards the proper maintenance of the State roads right from Mandi to Karsog.
He said accountability shall be fixed and strict action shall follow against the defaulters. large crowds had thronged his public meetings at Karsog, Nachan and Gohar constituencies. At Karsog, Singh announced that a network of ten well-equipped modern ITIs would be set up in the State. He also announced the opening of a HRTC Depot at Karsog to facilitate the tourists and the common people.
He also declared appointment of Ashrya Sharma, son of Anil Sharma, Panchyati Raj and Rural Development Minister and grandson of Pt Sukh Ram as General Secretary of Mandi District Congress Committee, which is being described as a tactical move to weaken his detractors within the Congress.
His son and State Youth Congress President Vikramaditya also accompanied him throughout his 5-day tour and addressed the public meetings. The thrust of his speeches was to generate skilled and self-employment for the youths and make Himachal Pradesh a prosperous State. Vikramaditya stressed the need of harnessing the vast scope of tourism in the panoramic hill State.
Sohan lal Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, drew the attention of the Chief Minister towards heavy losses caused by high-velocity winds which lashed the Sundernagar Valley on Friday night causing estimated loss of over Rs15 lakhs paralysing normal life as trees fell on power lines and huge loss was caused to standing crops and fruit gardens. Several roof-tops were also blown away, he said.