Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday blamed the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana for opposing the central industrial package extended to the hill States.
The Chief Minister while addressing a public meeting at Baddi said that the industrial package was withdrawn from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to unnecessary pressure from Punjab and Haryana,”
After inaugurating the Rs 8.10-crore Technical Training Institute for Skill Upgradation here, he said the Centre was the initiative of Government of India, the State and the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) under private public partnership (PPP) mode.
Virbhadra said that BBNDA had been developed as an industrial area and an IAS officer would be posted here. He said that apart from industries, other infrastructure facilities such as roads, parking and parks would be developed to make the area beautiful and attractive. He said that State Government had announced Skill Development Allowance scheme for upgrading skills of the youth. Now 10th pass youth between 18 to 35 years of age would get Rs 1,000 allowance per month for two years under the scheme. Physically challenged youths would be provided Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that state would bear 25 % cost of Bilaspur-Bhanupalli Broad Gauge Railway line and construction cost of new railway line connecting Baddi would be shared for promoting Baddi-Barotiwala – Nalagarh Industrial area and an agreement to this effect had been signed with Ministry of Railways.
Virbhadra inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of a number of projects in the state on Wednesday.
He dedicated Rs 1.38 crore multipurpose barrier building at Barotiwala in Nalagarh sub division of Solan district. It would provide office accommodation and record room facility for Excise and Taxation Department, Marketing Board, ARTO Staff and Forest Department.
The CM also inaugurated Baddi Technical Training Institute for skill up gradation development, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.10 crore. He laid foundation stone of hostel of Skill up gradation Centre for students to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.55 crore.
He also inaugurated Working Women Hostel at Baddi constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore and laid foundation stone of Tehsil building complex, Baddi and announced Rs 1 crore for it and Rs3 lakh for renovation of Ayurvedic Dispensary, Baddi.
He laid foundation stone of bridge on Baddi-Sheetalpur Road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.30 crore. He also dedicated road built under Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme and Bridge at Ratta near Malkhu Majra, Baddi constructed at a cost of Rs 15.40 crore. Virbhadra laid foundation stone of parking complex at Nalagarh to be constructed at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.